Manjhi continues to be recognised as unattached member:Speaker

Former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi would continue to be regarded as unattached member notwithstanding Election Commission recognising his fledgling Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), Speaker of Bihar Legislative Assembly Uday Narayan Choudhary said today.
As per Vidhan Sabha Secretariat records, Manjhi will continue to be regarded as unattached member, Choudhary told a meeting of Assembly Press Gallery committee ahead of the session starting from August 3.
"As per provisions available, JD(U) whip would be applicable on him," he said.
The Election Commission of India recently sent a letter recognising HAM as a new political party. It is yet to get a symbol.

Manjhi and a few other dissident JD(U) MLAs are yet to give up their membership of the parent party and hence they would be recognised in the list of that party itself.
Manjhi, who turned rebel after being removed from CM post in February, was declared as unattached by the Assembly secretariat on recommendations of his party JD(U) before he was supposed to face confidence vote on February 21 this year.

Manjhi did not face the trust vote and resigned before it could take place.
His party HAM has become a part of BJP-led NDA coalition in Bihar to take on JD(U), RJD and Congress secular alliance in the crucial Assembly elections. Manjhi shared dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his Muzaffarpur rally on July 25.

Eight other JD(U) rebel MLAs, whose membership have been terminated by the Assembly Secretariat, recently got permission from court to attend the House proceedings.
Four got judgement in this regard from the Supreme Court while as many got the judgement to this effect from the Patna High Court today.
"The Assembly Secretariat would go by the order of the courts," the Speaker said.
The monsoon session of both Houses of Bihar Legislature would be held from August 3-7.
Giving details of the business of the House during this short spell of monsoon session, Choudhary said on the opening day, tributes would be paid to former President A P J Abdul Kalam who had twice addressed the joint session of Bihar Legislature in 2006 as well in 2011.

Members would pay respect also to R S Gavai, former Governor of Bihar who passed away recently, he said.
The 5-day session, the last before the state goes for polls in September-October, is expected to be volatile.