PATNA: A day after Jitan Ram Manjhi’s remark that he would support Nitish Kumar if the Bihar CM decides to join hands with BJP again in the state’s interests stirred a row, the former CM’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) Saturday claimed the comments were “misinterpreted” and that they stood rock-solid with the governing Mahagathbandhan.
In a cryptic statement, Danish Rizwan, a spokesperson for Mahagathbandhan ally HAM (S), said: “Manjhiji’s remark is being misinterpreted. However, HAM (S) will be with Nitish in all circumstances and support all his decisions.”
Manjhi had made the remark in Gaya Friday when asked about the claim of poll strategist-turned-political activist Prashant Kishor that Nitish was keeping his options open with BJP.
Manjhi had said “I cannot say what is the calculation of Kishor. However, if Nitish returns to the NDA, I will welcome it. Everything is possible in politics. Nitishji has already said that he will not join hands with BJP though.”
Kishor reiterated his claim Saturday and said Nitish should ask his JD(U)’s Harivansh Singh to leave as Rajya Sabha deputy chairman. “Nitishji, if you have nothing to do with BJP/NDA, then ask your MP to quit the post of deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha. You can’t have both ways all the time,” Kishor tweeted.
Two days ago, Bihar BJP president Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal had declared that the party’s “doors were closed” for Nitish.