Nitish Kumar stakes claim to form govt in Bihar, presents 130 MLAs

Earlier today, JD(U) expelled incumbent CM Jitan Ram Manjhi from the party

JD(U) Legislature Party leader Nitish Kumar today staked claim to form the government in Bihar before governor Kesri Nath Tripathi, parading 130 MLAs in his support.

Kumar, RJD President Lalu Prasad and his JD(U) counterpart Sharad Yadav travelled in the same car to Raj Bhawan.

"We have told the governor that all the MLAs are present here with their identity cards.... We are ready to prove our majority within the deadline the governor decides," Kumar said.

Altogether 130 MLAs from JD(U), RJD, Congress, CPI  and an Independent MLA marched behind the three leaders and waited outside the Raj Bhawan shouting slogans in favour of Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad.

The leaders arrived at Raj Bhawan 15 minutes after Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi left the governor's house after attending the swearing-in of Chief Information Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sinha.

Manjhi parried questions of mediapersons and left for his residence.