JD-U's 15 legislators to contest as HAM candidates: Manjhi

Former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday said 15 rebel JD-U legislators would contest the coming state assembly polls as candidates of his newly formed Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM).

Manjhi said three rebel Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislators supporting him would contest as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates.

"When I was removed as the chief minister following my expulsion from the JD-U, 18 JD-U legislators rebelled and supported me. Now 15 of them will contest as HAM candidates and three others as BJP nominees," Manjhi said here.

He said his party would be part of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance to ensure the defeat of his friend turned foe and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his JD-U and Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad in the assembly polls likely to be held in September-October.

Manjhi denied his party could ally with expelled RJD parliamentarian Pappu Yadav's Jan Adhikar party for the polls.

Three days ago, Manjhi warned that his party would not join the NDA if sufficient number of seats and due respect were not given to his HAM. He, however, made a u-turn later on.