Next Bihar CM should be a dalit: Manjhi

His comments came amid speculation that there will be a change in guard since Nitish Kumar is upset with him

Amid heightened speculation about his removal from the post of chief minister, Jitan Ram Manjhi said he has knowledge that he will not return to the chair again but made a strong case that a dalit should be next CM of the state.

"I know that I'll not be chosen as chief minister again...I do not have any sadness over this...But the next CM shall be a dalit for continuation of welfare of SC & ST," Manjhi said at function of Tharu tribes in West Champaran district yesterday.

The speculation on change of guard is rife in the wake of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar going to Delhi yesterday and meeting RJD President Lalu Prasad and JD(U) President Sharad Yadav.

Kumar, however, had dismissed the speculation saying Bihar issue did not require to go to Delhi.

Speaking about continuation of Manjhi as chief minister, Kumar said, "I am nobody to decide this."

Kumar, who handpicked Manjhi to succeed him after he quit in the wake of JD(U) debacle in general elections is apparently upset with him particularly after Manjhi transferred many IAS officials close to him and publicly spoke in favour of rebel MLAs whose membership of state Assembly have been restored by Patna High Court.

Meanwhile, JD(U) today extended invitation to mediapersons for a feast on 'Makar Sankranti' on January 14 in which JD(U) and RJD leaders would take "Chura Dahi" (beaten rice and curd) together.

The feast which is expected to be attended by Sharad Yadav, Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar among others is seen as an important event in the process of merger of splinter parties of erstwhile Janata Parivar.

Its seen in the political circle here that Nitish Kumar might return to the helm after merger to take the united Janata Party in election later this year.

But, RJD Vice President and former union minister Raghubansh Prasad Singh said today said merger is not that easy.

"Sirf Lalu aur Nitish ke saath aane se baat nahi baneygi. Har sttar par sahmati banani hogi en partyiyo mein (Lalu and Nitish coming together would not complete the merger. A consensus has to be made at all levels in the parties)," Singh said.