JD(U) to contest Bihar polls under Nitish, says Manjhi

Quashing the claims of discontent between him and Nitish Kumar, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has said that the JD (U) would contest the Assembly polls next year under the leadership of his predecessor.

"Kumar remains the undisputed leader of our party. We will contest the Bihar Assembly polls, which are due next year, under his leadership," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

On the vexed leadership issue of the grand alliance of JD (U), RJD and Congress to take on a resurgent BJP at the hustings, Manjhi said the decision in this regard would be taken jointly by Kumar, JD (U) national president Sharad Yadav, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. However, so far as the leadership issue in the JD (U) was concerned, the Chief Minister said he would take a lead in proposing the name of his predecessor for it.

Manjhi, who took the reins of Bihar from Kumar nearly six months ago and has made several controversial remarks, is drawing criticism from BJP and murmurs from within his own party, appeared unperturbed saying he did not get affected by praise or criticism. "It's not my job to brood over who praises me or criticises me. My sole duty is to work for development of Bihar," he said.

On disqualification of membership of four JD (U) MLAs on Saturday, Manjhi said it was the decided by Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary and he could not comment or challenge the verdict. "It was up to the disqualified legislators to move court to challenge the decision," he said.The Speaker disqualified four JD (U) MLAs under the Anti-Defection Law following a petition of the ruling party chief whip and deposition by eyewitnesses, he said. However, Manjhi said he was not aware about the details of the disqualified JD (U) MLAs being debarred from perks and entitlements due to an ex-MLA.

If it was so, they should not get benefits for their current term that ceased yesterday and the same should not be applicable to their earlier terms as legislators, he said.