Patna, Feb. 7:Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi today accepted the recommendation of chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi to sack two ministers - Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and P.K. Shahi.

On Thursday night, Manjhi had sent his recommendation to the governor to dismiss these two ministers considered to be close to former chief minister Nitish Kumar.

Lalan and Shahi, holding the portfolio of road construction department and forest, environment and planning department, respectively, were the first in the cabinet who had openly registered their protest against Manjhi.

It was Lalan and Shahi who had challenged the authority of chief minister and written letter to chief secretary demanding explanation from Manjhi regarding frequent transfers of IAS officers.

The ministers, in the letter, had strongly opposed Manjhi and said the transfers and posting had violated the Supreme Court decision that the government must give a valid reason if officials are transferred within two years of their posting.

Later on, Manjhi had defended his stand on the transfers and slammed the ministers of not having the knowledge of rules. It could be understood from this fact as to why Manjhi chose to drop Lalan and Shahi first.

The talk of change in guard started taking shape from this very incident when the close confidants of Nitish were hammered by Manjhi.

'Lalan and Shahi are very close to Nitish and Manjhi made them angry by changing their secretaries and not allowing them to work as per their wish. The tussle between Lalan and Manjhi could be understood from the fact that Lalan hardly used to take the advice and suggestion from Manjhi. The chief minister, on the other hand, used to sit on the file related to the road construction department,' said a senior JDU leader and former minister.

On several occasions, Manjhi too has indirectly attacked Lalan without naming him.

On January 5, during a public meeting in Tarapur in Munger, Manjhi had said he wanted to bring a bill to reserve government contracts up to Rs 50 lakh for the poor to prevent Maoists from luring away their children and engaging them in subversive activities but his cabinet colleagues were not allowing him to do so.

The chief minister's speech was an indirect attack on Lalan as he being the road construction minister, dealt with contracts and tenders related to roads. The party insider also said that the chemistry between Manjhi and Lalan was never cosy and both had many issues which led to the escalation of differences.

Though Shahi was not into very bitter terms with the chief minister, but what angered Manjhi was the same letter challenging his authority. Both Manjhi and Shahi had taken part in a programme organised at Patna zoo in which both pedalled bicycle.

However, the next day itself (February 1), both sent letter to the chief secretary's office.

After the news broke that Manjhi had sent recommendation to the governor to sack both the ministers, Lalan had said he was not bothered about any recommendation. Shahi too had echoed the same.

Today also when the meeting of legislature party was underway at annexe building in the state legislative Assembly, both were seen together walking in the premises. Both of them skipped the beginning of the meeting and joined it after 20 minutes.

Both Shahi and Lalan had contested general election last year but lost. Shahi lost the 2013 by-election from Maharajganj Lok Sabha seat and Lalan lost the 2014 Lok Sabha poll from Munger.

However, even after losing general election, they have never gone out of Nitish's good book, as it has been known from various sources that the former chief minister banked on the duo for several reasons.