PATNA: After dismissing two ministers from his rival camp, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday called a meeting of his cabinet this afternoon amidst reports that he might recommend dissolution of the state assembly.
The meeting of the state cabinet has been called at 2 PM, highly placed party sources said.
The timing of cabinet meeting has been kept close to the JD(U) LP meeting called by party President Sharad Yadav at 4 PM.
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Launching an offensive against his rival camp, Manjhi had late last night recommended to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi the dismissal of ministers Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan and P K Sahi considered close to Kumar, the former chief minister.
The dismissal of Lallan, Minister for Road Construction and Shahi, the Forest Minister last night was confirmed by Amritlal Meena, Principal Secretary to the chief minister on Saturday.
The Manjhi camp believes that the two have been in the forefront to oust him from the chief minister's post.
Yadav in a letter has requested the governor not to entertain "any recommendation by Manjhi who is in minority".
A senior minister close to Nitish Kumar said on condition of anonymity "In the worst case there will be no more than 13 legislators including some ministers siding with Manjhi."
Tyagi claimed the Nitish camp has the support of 130 legislators, comprising MLAs and MLCs.
"We can parade our legislators in front of the governor or the president of the country, if asked," he said.
Parliamentary Affairs minister Shrawan Kumar, who is also JD(U) Chief Whip, had yesterday sent notice of the legislature party meeting called by Sharad Yadav to 111 MLAs and 41 MLCs. The list includes Nitish Kumar and Manjhi.
There were reports of Manjhi supporters protesting on the streets at Jehanabad.