JDU distances CM Nitish Kumar from panel, trusts selections

New Delhi: JDU spokesman Neeraj Kumar on Monday raised objections to the recent appointments of political leaders to government commissions and religious trusts in Bihar, even as he said that no one can question the integrity of party president and chief minister Nitish Kumar in the matter that had been taken up strongly by the opposition.

"No one can question the integrity of Nitish Kumar. He is known for his unique working style which has over the years added to his image of an honest and transparent politician in Bihar. All these appointments do not require the signature of the chief minister. No one should say anything which can damage the integrity of our party leader Nitish Kumar," Kumar, a senior party leader and a former minister in the previous state government, told ET.

He also criticised state minister and JDU leader Ashok Choudhary, without naming him, over the appointment of his son-in-law Sayan Kunal to the Bihar Religious Trust Board. Choudhary had said that the appointment of his son-in-law was not from the JDU quota but the RSS quota. "What our allies are doing is not something we should bother about. It is their internal matter. But how can you talk about RSS quota while you are in the JDU?" Kumar said. "RSS is a cultural organisation, and the BJP has an association with it. By naming the RSS, you are raising a question on how loyal you are to the party leadership. There was no need for that explanation about the appointment."

Senior JDU leaders, however, told ET that all the appointments were made after consultations from all allies in the NDA and every decision was vetted by chief minister Nitish Kumar.