Nitish flies MLAs to Delhi, to parade them before President

PATNA: Former chief minister Nitish Kumar flew for Delhi along with two planeloads of MLAs and leaders of supporting political parties on Tuesday apparently to mount pressure on governor Keshari Nath Tripathi against delaying a decision on the political stalemate in Bihar.
In response to JD (U) president Sharad Yadav’s request for an appointment, President Pranab Mukherjee is learned to have called them on Wednesday evening.Nitish plans to parade his MLAs before the President to underline his claim to form government in Bihar on the strength of support of more than 117 MLAs in the state assembly which has currently 233 members.
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In view of the fluid political situation, the JD (U) also deferred the February 15 booth-level party workers meeting at Gandhi Maidan here to March 1, said party state president Bashishth Narain Singh.
Though Nitish refused to blame the governor for delaying an invite to him to form government and allowing chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi to indulge in horse trading, he said he could not wait and see Bihar suffer. “Why is this delay? We nursed Bihar for more than eight years and ensured good governance and rule of law. How can we allow BJP to get all wrong things done through Manjhi and heap the blame on me for that? I have the record of statements made by BJP leaders against me for the wrongs committed by the Manjhi government. They should announce their support to Manjhi. If they do so, I’ll expose them the way I played the tape of Modi on bringing back black money from abroad and failing to do so,” Nitish said before leaving for Delhi.
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JD(U) MLAs at Patna airport before flying to Delhi.
Explaining the social engineering during his regime, Nitish said he always tried to take along every caste and section of the society. On the technicalities raised by Manjhi on Monday after meeting the governor, Nitish said the JD (U) will sit in the opposition the day assembly session is convened. “We have already notified Vijay Kumar Choudhary as the JD (U) leader in the assembly. We are ready for election but a popular government should be formed for the remaining term of this assembly,” he said.
Referring to the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, Nitish said there was no provision for secret ballot as demanded by Manjhi. “Galti ka parimarjan swayam karna padta hai (One has to observe penance for the wrong committed by self),” he said in reply to a question that he committed a mistake by crowning Manjhi. “Now I have to correct my decision,” he added.
Read this in Hindi: पटना से विधायकों को लेकर दिल्ली पहुंचे नीतीश