'Will follow Nitish wherever he goes': Bihar council chairman

PATNA: Bihar legislative council chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur on Saturday said he would follow CM Nitish Kumar wherever he goes, triggering speculations in the political circles. Thakur reacted shortly after reportedly being promised a Lok Sabha ticket for the Sitamarhi seat, currently represented by JD(U) MP Sunil Kumar Pintu.To a specific question about his position if Nitish returns to the BJP-led NDA fold, Thakur said, "That will be his (Nitish’s) decision. I am his soldier and will follow him wherever he goes. Jahan jayenge, unke saath taiyar hain. Wo jahan le chalenge, ham jayenge…yah faisla unka hoga aur ham unke saath hain."Thakur’s observations assume much political significance in the light of reports that Nitish is angry with the Congress leadership over certain issues although the CM himself has denied such reports.Thakur is the first person from the Grand Alliance to have been promised a ticket for a particular Lok Sabha seat in Bihar even though the seat sharing talks are yet to start among the alliance partners, let aside finalization of seats. The Grand Alliance comprises RJD, JD(U), Congress and the Left.“At the JD(U) executive committee meeting held on Friday, his candidature came up for discussion and he is most likely to get the party ticket,” JD(U) national general secretary Rajib Ranjan informed.Sitting MP Pintu, however, said Sitamarhi is the only seat in the state where the final decision for ticket distribution is taken at the level of Goddess Sita. Sitamarhi is considered the birthplace of the Goddess.“Last time as well, the JD(U) had announced the candidature of Dr Varun from this seat but ultimately, the ticket was given to me. This happened only because Goddess Sita personally intervened,” Pintu claimed, asking reporters to “wait.”On being asked by the media persons to explain whether the party had the consent of the RJD chief Lalu Prasad over ticket allotment, Thakur said his leader was Nitish Kumar and moreover the Sitamarhi seat belongs to the JD(U). “Sitamarhi seat is represented by the JD(U) in LS and naturally, we have claim over it,” he said.