Patna: Using cricket parlance, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today said he was playing a T20 match and would continue to bat, hitting the ball all around, till he gets out.
“Nitish Kumar chose me to bat and I am doing it honestly. I will continue to bat till I am out and another batsman sent to the ground,” Manjhi told reporters emerging from “Janata ke Darbar me Mukhya Mantri” programme.
Manjhi was asked about his “controversial remarks” which put his party and cabinet ministers in dock and created trouble for Nitish Kumar, who is tipped to lead a united Janata Party if it wins in the Assembly poll later this year.
The CM had yesterday said at Munger, “Some people whisper that I am playing test cricket, some others say I am playing One Day International even as few others say that I am playing T20, but I will deliver on my promises irrespective of whatever version of the game I get to play.”
Manjhi was chosen by Nitish Kumar to head JD (U) government in the state after he resigned in May last year in the wake of severe drubbing his party got in the general election. Reports suggest that Nitish Kumar would return to the CM chair if the united Janata Parivar comprising JD (U) and RJD come to power after polls later this year.
Asked why he was not attending meetings of JD (U) with regard to merger of party with RJD and other entities of ersthile Janata Parivar, Manjhi said, “At the very outset Nitish Kumar had made it clear that while he will look after party affairs, I will head the government.”
“Did any minister of my cabinet attend the party meeting in the last two days which endorsed merger?” he said to drive home his point.
In reply to a question if the state government was mulling to rope in actress Rekha as brand Ambassador to promote tourism like Gujarat has chosen Amitabh Bachchan and West Bengal nominated Shahrukh Khan, Manjhi said the proposal has not come to him so far.
“When it comes in Cabinet we will definitely consider the proposal after consulting other members,” he said. He, however, supported engaging some celebrity for promoting tourism which he said was a priority sector.
Manjhi lauded Amir Khan starrer “PK” and backed party decision to use the film in its campaign against BJP across the state to “expose hypocrisy of BJP”.
