Patna: Amid heightened speculation about his remo-val from the post of chief minister, Jitan Ram Manjhi said he has knowledge that he will not return to the chair again but made a strong case that a dalit should be next CM of the state. “I know that I’ll not be chosen as chief minister again…I do not have any sadness over this…but the next CM shall be a dalit for continuation of welfare of SC & ST,” Manjhi said at function of Tharu tribes in West Champaran district On Thursday.
The speculation on change of guard is rife in the wake of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar going to Delhi yesterday and meeting RJD President Lalu Prasad and JD(U) President Sharad Yadav. Kumar, however, had dismissed the speculation saying Bihar issue did not require to go to Delhi. Speaking about continuation of Manjhi as chief minister, Kumar said, “I am nobody to decide this.” Kumar, who hand-picked Manjhi to succeed him after he quit in the wake of JD(U) debacle in general elections is apparently upset with him particularly after Manjhi transferred many IAS officials close to him and publicly spoke in favour of rebel MLAs who-se membership of state Assembly have been resto-red by Patna High Court.
Meanwhile, JD(U) on Friday extended invitation to mediapersons for a feast on ‘Makar Sankranti’ on January 14 in which JD(U) and RJD leaders would take “Chura Dahi” together. The feast which is expected to be attended by Sharad Yadav, Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar among others is seen as an important event in the process of merger of splinter parties of erstwhile Janata Parivar.(PTI)