Manjhi's remark on Nitish as CM sparks political debate

RJD and Congress say it is the opinion 'of the JD(U) and not of the alliance'

Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's remarks that Nitish Kumar should become the chief minister if the JD(U)-RJD-Congress alliance secures a majority in the next year's assembly polls, has triggered a political debate in Bihar ahead of the bypoll in ten seats in the state.

New alliance partners of JD(U), RJD and Congress said it is the opinion "of the JD(U) and not of the alliance".

The leader of the alliance will be decided when the time comes, they said.

RJD Legislature party leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui told PTI, "it is the stand of JD(U) and not of the alliance." "Decision about Chief Minister of the alliance will be taken after Assembly poll by leaders of the partner parties...at that time any A B C can be chosen as chief minister," Siddiqui said.

Congress also dubbed Manjhi's assertions as an "internal matter of JD(U)."

"When the alliance for the crucial Assembly election next year will be formalised and seeing the poll results, a decision will be taken by leaders of partner parties as to who will be the chief minister," Congress Vice President and its media in-charge, Prem Chand Mishra said.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Nand Kishore Yadav of BJP told PTI over phone from Banka, "Manjhi's comments confirm that Nitish Kumar is the actual force of present government and he is only a pawn."

"From the beginning we have been saying that tie-up between JD(U), RJD and Congress is "immoral," the BJP leader said.Yadav said BJP would not give trouble to JD(U), RJD and Congress to decide on chief ministership as it would come to power after Assembly poll.Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi asked the JD(U)-Congress-RJD alliance first to get majority in the Assembly after the election.

"The question of choosing a CM, whether its Nitish Kumar or somebody else, will come only when they will get a majority in the Assembly poll next year," Modi told PTI.