Jitan Ram Manjhi Denies Seeking Support from BJP

Manjhi was barred from Janata Dal (United) after he refused to step down and allow Nitish Kumar to take over as the Chief Minister of Bihar.

Amidst political crisis at home, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi arrived in New Delhi on Monday but denied that he was visiting the capital to meet BJP leaders.

Manjhi was barred from his party, Janata Dal (United), after he refused to step down and allow Nitish Kumar to take over as the Chief Minister of Bihar.

Manjhi said he had come to meet a few government officials to discuss various important issues. He bluntly denied the possibility of him meeting with BJP leaders to seek support for the upcoming trust vote in the Bihar Assembly on 20 February.

Manjhi said, "I am not meeting BJP leaders; it is up to them to support or not to support me," Zee Media Bureau reports.

Manjhi said the allegations on him to dissolve the state assembly and advocate President's Rule were incorrect as he had no intention to do so. He revealed this to the reporters, hours before his expected meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee.

However, sources said Manjhi has fixed an appointment with BJP president Amit Shah. Manjhi's arrival in Delhi intensified the controversy as the JD(U) alleged that the political crisis in Bihar was well-plotted by the Centre.