New Delhi: BJP has not given any indication to its ally and mahadalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi that he will be its chief minister candidate if the party-led NDA wins the Bihar Assembly elections, party president Amit Shah said on Saturday.
"Manjhi has the right to speak on behalf of his party. As far as BJP is concerned, we have not given any such indication nor have we decided on a name," he told 'Aap Ki Adalat' show on India TV, according to a press release from the channel.
He was replying to a question on Manjhi, a former chief minister who is heading Hindustani Awam Morcha (secular), claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in public indicated him as a possible Chief Minister.
Replying to a question that BJP's campaign appeared to be marriage party without a groom, Shah dismissed such an impression, saying on several occasions BJP fought elections on the basis of teamwork and elected its leader later with good results.
He gave the examples of Maharashtra and Jharkhand where nobody was projected as the chief ministerial candidate but party governments were formed and chief ministers were doing a good work.
"We have very good and experienced leaders in Bihar who can give the state a good government," he said.
The release said Shah admitted the issue of development took a back seat when the issue of beef was raised in Bihar elections. He accused RJD supremo Lalu Prasad of raking up the issue.
