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Bihar CM Manjhi faces crucial trust vote today

by IBNS 20 Feb 2015, 10:38 am

Patna, Feb 20 (IBNS): Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi will seek a vote of confidence in the state assembly around noon on Friday amid a whip by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state to vote for the CM to keep Nitish Kumar away.

 Manjhi, who has been expelled his party Janata Dal-United (JD-U) for revolting against it to remain the CM, will need 117 votes to remain the chief minister, said reports.

JD-U said Manjhi will lose the vote and that Nitish Kumar  enjoys the support of 128 votes, to return as the Chief Minister.

Nitish Kumar is backed by Congress and RJD too.

Manjhi in the morning is meeting the Governor.

Earlier, the Patna High Court on Thursday barred four rebel Janata Dal United (JDU) MLAs from voting during the confidence motion scheduled on Friday.

The order of a HC double bench is likely to effect Manjhi's floor test.

After being expelled from the Janata Dal (United), Manjhi had  met state Governor KN Tripathi and said he is ready to prove his majority through secret ballot.

The JD (U) had expelled Manjhi amid an ongoing turmoil after former CM and party leader Nitish Kumar staked claim to form the government in the state when 97 MLAs  unanimously elected him as the the leader of the state Assembly at a  legislative party meeting.

JD-U said Manjhi is being backed by the BJP president Amit Shah and also has support of  Modi and had been involved in anti-party activities.

Manjhi has been asked to show his strength on the floor of the House by the Governor. Manjhi had refused to step down as the CM revolting against his party.

Nitish Kumar was elected the leader of the Bihar Assembly at a  legislative party meeting but Manjhi recommended to the governor to dissolve the house, stoking possibility of an early election in the state.

Manjhi was named as Bihar CM on May 17, 2014 after Nitish resigned following the party's electoral drubbing in the last Lok Sabha  polls.