Patna: RJD national vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh on Monday created a flutter by claiming former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha will soon join the RJD, a claim the latter denied.

Raghuvansh said the BJP's allies, like Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular (HAMS) and the Rastriya Lok Samta Party (RSLP), were feeling uncomfortable in the NDA. "There are people like Manjhi and Kushwaha who are waiting for an opportunity and I must tell you they'll soon join the RJD," Raghuvansh said. Both leaders had no option than to join the RJD, he said. "We all have one target, to defeat the communal and fascist forces."

Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav had said Manjhi and Kushwaha were most welcome to join the RJD if they wished to. But Raghuvansh went a step ahead to say that a few days back the state unit chief of Manjhi's party had met RJD chief Lalu Prasad in Ranchi and this was an indication Manjhi wants to join the RJD.

He also said the RJD had stood by Manjhi when Nitish Kumar removed him as chief minister.

Rejecting Raghuvansh's claim, Manjhi said he does not have the authority to make such claims because he is not a leader of that stature. He, in fact, said it was Raghuvansh who will join his party soon. "Being the national president of HAMS, I, Jitan Ram Manjhi, say with full authority that Raghuvansh will soon join our party," Manjhi said. "As regards Raghuvansh's claim of there being no option before me, it is Raghuvansh who has no option before him other than to take instructions from that kid (Tejashwi) after Lalu ji was sent to jail."

Manjhi said most senior leaders in the RJD were feeling uncomfortable under Tejashwi and were looking for better options. He went on to say Raghuvansh does not have any support base. "In the next Assembly election, people will come to know about Jitan Ram Manjhi's power and support base. Raghuvansh does not have any support base. He is daydreaming," Manjhi said.

Union minister of state for HRD and nation president of the RLSP Upendra Kushwaha, too, slammed Raghuvansh, saying he has lost his mental balance. "He is talking nonsense which and I think he has lost his mental balance, too," Kushwaha said.