Patna: As crisis deepens in Bihar’s Legislative Assembly, the Janata Dal (United) has expelled seven ministers of Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s camp from the party, reports claimed on Tuesday.
According to reports, the JD(U) expelled the seven ministers on grounds of anti-party activities. The seven ministers in question are Narendra Singh, Brishen Patel, Mahachandra Singh, Samrat Choudhary, Bhim Singh, Shahid Ali Khan and Nitish Mishra.
Confirming the expulsion of seven ministers, JD(U) leader Shrawan Kumar said that the party has suspended seven Bihar ministers owing allegiance to chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.
Speaking to media, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav said, “State president had asked me and I told him he was authorised to take action on problems emerging there,” adding, “When he finished the assessment and action, the letter was received by me and I consented with his decision.”
Taking potshots at Nitish Kumar, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said that a time will come when Nitish Kumar will suspend all leaders and be left alone in the party.
“JD(U) is the first and only party to expel its own CM,” said Hussain, adding, “Since these seven ministers had refused to follow Nitish Kumar’s orders, they have been expelled.”
Reacting strongly against expulsion, one of Manjhi’s supporters MP Singh told ANI that JD(U) has become a ‘private limited’. “They have stooped really low. Don’t consider it a party anymore,” Singh was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview to Media, former Bihar CM Nitish Kumar admitted that it was a mistake to appoint Manjhi as the chief minister of Bihar.
Nitish today said JD(U) was forced to ask Manjhi to step down owing to the controversies surrounding him.
“It is before everyone what happened. All humans commit mistake,” Nitish said when asked if he had appointed a wrong man as chief minister.
“After a point of time, we were forced to step in, to ensure course correction and work as per people’s mandate,” the former CM said, adding it was a mistake to have chosen Manjhi as his successor.
He also took pot shots at the BJP for allegedly supporting Manjhi.
“BJP once used to criticise Manjhi. Now they are supporting him,” he told Zee Media.
Nitish said when JD(U) was trying to bring together Janata Parivaar, Manjhi was allying with the BJP to spoil everything.
He further accused the BJP of trying to split JD(U).
“Like they (BJP) have split JVM (Jharkhand Vikas Morcha) in Jharkhand, they are trying to do the same with JD(U),” he alleged.
