Manjhi loyalist MLA files plea against Nitish re-election

Patna, Feb 9: Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's loyalist JD-U MLA Rajeshwar Raj Monday petitioned the Patna High Court against party president Sharad Yadav who, he contended, illegally summoned a legislature party meeting which Saturday elected Nitish Kumar as its new leader. "I have filed a petition in the Patna High Court against Yadav's decision to call the meeting for re-electing Nitish Kumar as the new leader because it was unconstitutional and illegal," said Raj, adding that he has sought the court's intervention. Manjhi has already termed Yadav's decision to call the meeting as illegal and questioned the re-election of the former chief minister as the new leader of Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) legislature party. Bihar's ruling JD-U Monday expelled Manjhi from the party for six years, chief whip Shrawan Kumar said.