RJD's Pappu Yadav is openly supporting Jitan Ram Manjhi.
Pappu Yadav, Parliamentarian of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, has denied charges that he offered inducements to a lawmaker of the Janata Dal United in exchange of support for Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi during tomorrow's trust vote. The JDU charges were made this morning at a hurriedly organized media conference.
"There is nothing wrong with supporting Manjhi. But I do not believe in the politics of inducement and I never spoke to the legislator concerned," Mr Yadav said.
Pappu Yadav has openly sided with Mr Manjhi, even though his party, the RJD, is supporting Nitish Kumar, the contender for the chief minister's post. Failing to convince his boss, Lalu Prasad, to side with Mr Manjhi, Mr Yadav had appealed to MLAs to listen to the "voice of their conscience".
But JDU legislator from Sheohar, Sharfuddin, said Mr Yadav had called him on his cellphone and offered various inducements. "He said I will be given a minister's post, money and whatever I wish for if I vote in favour of Manjhi," Mr Sharfuddin said.
He even played a purported recording of the phone call at the media conference.
Mr Manjhi will need 117 votes to win tomorrow, but even if the BJP supports him, he may fall short. Mr Manjhi has 12 lawmakers on his side, the BJP has 87. His rival Mr Kumar has claimed to have the support of more than 120 legislators.
Today, Mr Manjhi landed in another controversy, announcing at a public meeting that anyone who wants to become a minister should support him.