Any JD(U) leader can become CM if party wins Assembly polls: Narendra Singh

PATNA: Creating a flutter in ruling party circles, a senior Bihar minister today said that any leader, including incumbent Jitan Ram Manjhi, can become chief minister if JD(U) retains power in the Assembly polls next year.

"Any JD(U) leader, including Manjhi can become the Chief Minister if the party wins the next Assembly polls," Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh said in the Legislative Assembly.

Singh made an impromptu remark on the next chief ministerial candidate of his party after Leader of Opposition Nandkishore Yadav poked him on crediting Manjhi for impressing up on the Centre to take a policy decision on procurement of maize on the lines of paddy and wheat.

Singh's remarks assume importance in the backdrop of JD(U)'s announcement that the former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will lead the ruling party's campaign in the next general elections in 2015 and will take over reins from Manjhi in the event of his party winning the assembly polls.

Manjhi was, however, there to stay in his post till the next assembly polls, Singh said.

"Nobody will touch Manjhi till the next Assembly polls," he said.