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Senior JD(U) leader and former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today expressed displeasure on his successor's remarks over Patna High Court's decision to overturn the dismissal of 4 rebel JD (U) MLAs. However, he also downplayed speculations of removal of Jitan Ram Manjhi as the Bihar CM.
When asked about murmuring in the party on the comment of Manjhi on four rebels after Patna High Court restored their membership in Assembly, Kumar said, "it's not good to speak in different voices while being in party...but such assertions have no impact on the health of JD (U)."Asked about continuation of Manjhi as Chief Minister, he said "I am nobody to decide this." He also dismissed speculation of his going to Delhi was meant to discuss the fate of Manjhi with party chief Sharad Yadav, RJD president Lalu Prasad and their SP counterpart Mulayam Singh Yadav.
"There is no need to hold a meeting on Bihar issue in Delhi," Kumar told reporters at Patna Airport before leaving for the national capital.
Kumar had handpicked Manjhi to replace him on CM chair after he resigned in May last year following JD(U)'s drubbing in the general election. But, some statements of Manjhi have created embarrassment for Kumar as well the party ahead of the Assembly poll later this year.
Manjhi while welcoming judgement of the HC had said he was not in favour of ending membership of rebel JD(U) MLAs. Later, his own Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shrawan Kumar, a close confidante of Nitish Kumar, said the Chief Minister had the habit of taking back his own words and advised him to speak after due understanding of the subject.
Manjhi today said he was not "clever" and speak his mind on the basis of his long experience which makes headlines.
