NEW DELHI: With the Bihar Assembly headed for a showdown during the trust vote on Friday, the BJP is weighing its options. The party legislators will meet on Wednesday to chalk out their strategy.
Sources point out that even if Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi manages to save the government, it will not be able to transact any business, given the vitiated atmosphere in the state. Moreover, Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary’s ‘inclination’ towards the official JD(U) faction led by Nitish Kumar could give the latter an advantage when the trust vote takes place.
The BJP stands to gain if Manjhi attains the status of a ‘Dalit icon’ after his ouster from power by Nitish, his former mentor.
BJP sources said the option of Manjhi either joining hands with them or floating his own independent political entity will be revealed after the trust vote on February 20.
Manjhi would gain in stature if he goes down fighting - resigning in absence of numbers - claiming he was has wronged. Manjhi may not have been popular earlier, but his stock among his community has soared since he was asked to vacate his post, BJP leaders said. Manjhi can now lay claim to 99 per cent votes of his community, a BJP source said.
Meanwhile, the saffron party increased its attack on Nitish, saying the political situation in the state was the fallout of his actions.
Former Bihar CM and state BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Monday said the political drama in Bihar during the last 20 months had pushed the state back by 20 years.
HC restraint on policy decision
Patna: In a major setback to embattled Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, the Patna High Court on Monday restrained his government from taking any policy decisions, which has financial implications.