Nitish loyalists challenge court stay on his election

Patna, Feb 12 (IANS) Legislators loyal to JD-U leader Nitish Kumar Thursday filed a petition in the Patna High Court challenging the stay on his election as the new leader of the legislature party.

Former minister P.K. Shahi has filed a petition challenging the stay and requested it be withdrawn.

"The court will hear my petition Thursday evening (after 4 p.m.)," Shahi, who is considered close to Nitish Kumar, said.

The court Wednesday stayed Nitish Kumar's election as the new leader of the legislature party after hearing a petition filed by Rajeshwar Raj, a legislator considered close to Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.

The court has fixed Feb 17 as next date of hearing.

Raj has filed a PIL in the court challenging the legality of party president Sharad Yadav's action of summoning the legislature party meeting Saturday which elected Nitish Kumar as its new leader.

Earlier this week, a letter issued by Hareram Mukhiya, secretary in-charge of the assembly, said Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary recognised Nitish Kumar as the new leader of the JD-U legislature party.

Manjhi has already termed Sharad Yadav's decision to call the meeting as illegal and questioned the re-election of the former chief minister Nitich Kumar as its new leader.

Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United Monday expelled Manjhi from the party for six years, chief whip Shrawan Kumar said.