Patna, July 29: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today welcomed his ally Lalu Prasad's demand for 80 per cent reservation for residents in education and government jobs, saying it was not at all irrelevant.

"When I visited Jharkhand, I extended my support to the issue of domicile reservation and it is not irrelevant," Nitish said. "In fact, I would say that in today's scenario the issue is very relevant."

Lalu had told reporters on Thursday that he would speak to Nitish on the matter so that the chief minister could "instruct the general administration department to make such a rule".

He said a similar policy was already being implemented in states like Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh and doing so in Bihar would mean the people would stay back here instead of leaving the state in search of jobs.

Lalu's younger son, and deputy chief minister, Tejashwi Yadav echoed him. "The youths of Bihar should get employment in their own state so it becomes important that a policy be made in which there is reservation for the state's people."

Nitish added: "Things have changed today and the issue of domicile has become big. I have supported the issue when I was Jharkhand and if a similar issue is raised in Bihar, I do not think I can have a different opinion. But it is an issue on which we need intensive discussions before reaching any decision. I think we have to call an all-party meeting to solicit opinions and only after that a proper decision can be taken."

Opposition leaders, too, extended their support to the issue. Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular president Jitan Ram Manjhi supported Lalu's stand.

"Lalu ji has raised a very valid issue and I am there to support him," he said. "I will urge Laluji not to just raise the issue of local reservation but to put pressure on Nitish to preparethe policy as soon as possible."

A senior official in the general administration department said: "There is no policy in the state which provides reservation to the residents. The only advantage the locals get pertains to reservation for different categories such as Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, etc."