'Sin to support Manjhi', says Shiv Sena

New Delhi, Feb 16 : The Shiv Sena has mocked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for supporting Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.

An editorial in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece, Saamana, said that supporting Manjhi would be a sin as it would be an endorsement of black era in politics. It said nobody should indulge in the sin of backing for political interest someone who has publicly said he accepts commission for development work.

"This is an open support to corruption. Any leader who says that he is getting money for development work, is a cheat towards the people and the state and no party should support such a leader (Manjhi)," Sanjay Raut told ANI today.

"If the CM says that he will prove majority with the help of Bharatiya Janata Party, then it's equally demeaning for the BJP," he added.

The editorial further said that former chief minister Nitish Kumar has the support of 130 legislators and yet Manjhi is trying to rope in the support of the BJP.

This comes two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar met at Baramati in Maharashtra.

Earlier in the day, Bihar Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary called a meeting of all political parties in Patna to decide on different issues including the demand for the status of opposition party made by the Nitish Kumar group of the JD(U).

He is expected to discuss the seating arrangements along with other details for February 20 where Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi will seek trust vote immediately after Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi's address to the joint session of legislative assembly and council(ANI)