"The party has suggested Manjhi to refrain from making controversial statements as it not only hurts the organisation and makes the leaders feel uncomfortable, but also demoralises party workers," JD(U) General Secretary K C Tyagi said.
"We told Manjhi not to make any such statement which could be distorted and used by the BJP for its own benefit. This is a time to remain united to fight the divisive agenda of communal forces. He should not speak anything which shows disunity in the party," Tyagi said.
Asked if there is any plan to remove Manjhi from the post of chief minister, Tyagi, a confidant of JD(U) President Sharad Yadav, said "whether Manjhi continues as CM or not is an internal matter of the party. We need not discuss it in the public."
In reply to another question that some JD(U) MLAs have been demanding bringing back Nitish Kumar on CM chair, Tyagi said "Kumar has no lust for power otherwise he would not have resigned."
"BJP won all over the country in the Lok Sabha polls, but Nitish Kumar was the only leader to take moral responsibility for the defeat and resigned from the post of chief minister. He has no lust for power. He has said he will again take the responsibility only if the public wants it," Tyagi said.