Patna: Former Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) president Ashok Choudhary, who recently joined the JDU, on Sunday claimed that he had not joined chief minister Nitish Kumar with the motive of getting any ministerial post.

Choudhary's statement comes at a time of the controversy over the education department minister Krishna Nandan Prasad Verma and talk of Choudhary replacing him.

"It is widely believed that when a person switches sides or shifts loyalty to someone else, it's all because of getting something in return. But let me make this very clear that I have joined the JDU without any vested interest. I have not asked any favour from Nitish ji. I believed in his leadership which has attracted me and I am not greedy for any ministerial post," Choudhary said at his 2 Polo Road residence.

Choudhary was interacting with the media soon after the president of sports cell of Bihar Pradesh Congress Rajesh Mishra joined the JDU at his residence along with 11 district presidents of the cell.

Speaking over the Verma controversy in which JDU and BJP leaders attacked him saying that Verma does not know anything about his department, Choudhary indirectly made a similar statement, saying that it will take time for him to understand functioning of the department being new.

"He is a good person and doing good work. But it will take time for him to understand the department because it is not a small department but big. Every person has his capacity to learn and the ability varies from person to person," Choudhary said.

When The Telegraph asked about Nitish having a better option in Ashok Choudhary to handle the education department, Choudhary said: "Let Nitish ji decide the issue. Why are you mixing the two issues? Do not make me so small by saying that I have gone to Nitishji to become a minister. I have not gone to Nitish ji to become minister. I am attracted to his nature of work and style of functioning."