Patna: Nitish Kumar today chose senior minister Jitan Ram Manjhi to succeed him as Bihar Chief Minister, who would stake claim to form the government.
The 68-year-old Manjhi, a dalit leader, was SC & ST minister in the Nitish Kumar government. The JD(U) has staked claim to form the government in the state under Manjhi, Kumar said. Manjhi's name, he said, has the approval of JD(U) President Sharad Yadav as well state party chief Basistha Narayan Singh.
"We have staked claim before Governor D Y Patil to form the government under leadership of Jitan Ram Manjhi," outgoing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told reporters outside Raj Bhawan.
He said "We have handed over a list of support of 117 JD(U) MLAs, 2 Independents and 1 CPI member totalling 120 to the Governor for formation of the new government."
