Bihar crisis: Nitish Kumar parades MLAs before President Pranab, cries injustice

Patna: In a fresh twist to the continuing political drama in Bihar, the state’s aspiring chief minister Nitish Kumar paraded his lawmakers before the President in New Delhi on Wednesday to demand that he be allowed to take oath “without wasting any time”.

Nitish, who was accompanied by SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and Congress leader CP Joshi requested the President to direct the Governor take immediate decision over government formation.

“This is gross injustice to us. Even three days after staking claim, I have not been given the chance to form the government. We have asked the President to a decision (over government formation) immediately since the delay is polluting the political atmosphere in Bihar and encouraging horse-trading,” Nitish told the media on Wednesday after his meeting with Pranab Mukherjee.

According to him, the President listened to his appeal patiently and assured him of looking into their demands. “The President gave a patient hearing to us and assured to look into it,” Kumar said demanding that a special session of Bihar Assembly be called to decide over the issue.

Lalu, on the other hand, alleged there was conspiracy to put Bihar under President’s rule. “If efforts were made to bring the state under President’s rule anything could happen,” he warned.

The parade of MLAs comes in the backdrop of Patna High Court terming as illegal the appointment of Nitish Kumar as the leader of JD-U Legislature Party and Governor Keshari nath Tripathi seeking “sufficient” time to study every aspect of the prevailing power tussle in Bihar.

Legal experts said Nitish was not going to gain much by parading his legislators before the President as it was the Governor who had to act on the matter.

“It’s the Governor who has to decide, not the President… The President of India just can’t force the Governor to decide (over the issue) within two minutes, or one hour or one day. The Governor is not the ‘chaprasi’ (peon) of the President. The President is a constitutional authority, so is the Governor,” asked legal expert Vinay Kanth.

He added that the Governor had already taken into account the claims of both the parties and will act according to the Constitution. “In my opinion, it is clear to Jitan Ram Manjhi that as long as he is not removed or displaced on the floor of the assembly, he will continue as the chief minister. Prime facie, the Governor may be satisfied with Nitish Kumar proving his majority by parading 130 MLAs, but everything has to be decided on the floor of the House,” explained Kanth.

In a curious twist to the entire tale, Governor Keshari Nathn Tripathi has sought “sufficient” time to decide over the issue. “The Patna High Court has passed some order in this regard. Let me first study the order before I take any decision,” Governor told the media in Delhi adding “I need time to decide over every aspect of the conflict”.

Right now Nitish claims to have the majority on his side but the issue is that Chief Minister Manjhi still continues on his post. The Manjhi camp, on the other hand officially has the support of seven ministers and a few legislators but claims that “many of legislators from the JD(U) and RJD were in touch with them and had assured to vote for them during the floor test”.

Nitish left for Delhi with a bunch of 130 legislators by two separate flights on Wednesday after his 48-hour-long ultimatum given to the Governor for invitation to form government expired Tuesday noon.

“The majority is with me but I am being denied the opportunity to form government. This makes it clear that the BJP is behind the scene,” alleged Nitish adding he would decide the next course of action after meeting with the President.

The Manjhi camp, however, accused Nitish of “hijacking” legislators and taking them “into captivity”.