Nitish Kumar, Jitan Ram Manjhi cannot go together, says LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan

PATNA: Amid reports of differences between Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and his predecessor Nitish Kumar, LJP today accused Kumar of making mockery of a mahadalit Chief Minister and said the two could not go along.

"Dono ek rah par chalne wale nahin hain (the two cannot walk together on one path)," LJP President Ram Vilas Paswan told journalists reacting to reports of "difference" between the Chief Minister and his predecessor.

Paswan accused Nitish Kumar of making mockery of a mahadalit Chief Minister (Manjhi) by choosing him for the job on "contract basis".

"If he is so sincere about the welfare of dalits and mahadalits, he should have chosen a permanent CM and not one on contract basis," he said.

Alleging that Kumar is not allowing Manjhi to work, Paswan said, "In violation of practice, Kumar calls meeting of legislature party leaders at his residence and keeps Manjhi out. What signal does he want to give through such acts?"

The LJP chief said Kumar's "mahadalit card" by choosing Manjhi temporarily on CM chair till next year Assembly poll had gone wrong.

The LJP President flanked by son and MP Chirag Paswan said that party's foundation day would be celebrated in all 546 districts across the country on November 28.

He said LJP preparation for Bihar poll would start from December 13 next.