Bihar CM Manjhi quits ahead of trust vote; hurls accusations
20 Feb 2015
Facing certain defeat on the floor of the assembly, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today preferred to resign, while hurling corruption and other charges at his opponents.
Hours ahead of the trust vote, Manjhi submitted a one-line resignation letter to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.
Manjhi sprang a surprise by making an unscheduled visit to Raj Bhawan around 10 am. He returned to his 1 Anne Marg residence in Patna after a 15-minute meeting with the governor.
He recommended the dissolution of the Bihar assembly, which was adjourned sine die.
Hurling allegations all around, Manjhi told the media later, ''I suspect the conduct of the Speaker. I could have proved a majority as many JD-U MLAs could have voted for me if they didn't fear cancellation of membership (in the house).''
He even alleged that his ministers and MLAs had received death threats ahead of the trust vote.
''I appealed to the Bihar Governor to allow secret voting, but he said there is no constitutional provision for such an arrangement,'' he said.
