JDU's Nitish Kumar addresses the press outside Bihar governor's residence
Nitish Kumar today led about 130 legislators from his Janata Dal United and allies to the Bihar Governor's house in a show of strength, staking claim to be the state's new chief minister.
"We told the governor that all the legislators were at the gate of his house with their Identity cards and he could count them. We asked him to take a decision must be taken immediately. We are ready to prove majority on the floor of the assembly as soon as he wants," said Nitish Kumar, who was accompanied by RJD's Lalu Yadav and other allies.
Mr Kumar's party has also booked 140 seats on a flight to Delhi tomorrow, where it has sought an appointment with President Pranab Mukherjee to demonstrate support for Mr Kumar if he is not invited by the Bihar governor to be CM.
This morning the JDU expelled Jitan Ram Manjhi, who has refused to resign as Bihar chief minister, for anti-party activities. Mr Manjhi had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday. (
Read: Will Prove Majority in Assembly or Step Down, Says Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi)
Mr Manjhi, who also met the Governor today afternoon, claims he has the support of enough legislators to remain in the top post. "After meeting PM Modi, its like Jitan Ram Manjhi got a licence for horse trading," Nitish Kumar alleged.
Mr Manjhi had declared after meeting the PM, "I am the Chief Minister and I will be here till the legislature party decides otherwise. On the floor (of the assembly), whoever gives us support we will take it."
The JDU has 111 legislators in the 243-seat Bihar assembly. Mr Manjhi reportedly has the support of a dozen MLAs, while the rest back Nitish Kumar.
A party needs 122 MLAs for a majority. Lalu Yadav's 24 MLAs and the Congress's five back Nitish Kumar. The BJP and allies have 88 legislators.
Over the weekend, the JDU sacked Mr Manjhi as its leader in the Bihar Assembly and elected Mr Kumar in his place. Elections will be held in the state later this year and the JDU wants Nitish Kumar to lead its campaign.
Mr Manjhi was handpicked by Nitish Kumar to be his successor when he quit as chief minister last May owning responsibility for his party's poor performance in the national elections.