Patna: Rebel HAMS leader Narendra Singh rejoined the JDU on Monday in the presence of chief minister Nitish Kumar, who he had once called a weak person always surrounded by sycophants.

Narendra, who was agriculture minister earlier in Nitish's cabinet, was suspended from the JDU after he joined Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAMS.

"I had supported Jitan Ram Manjhi thinking that he was Dalit leader but whatever he has done today (abandon the NDA camp and cosy up to the RJD) is really shameful. Today I have returned to my old home," Narendra said.

At a public function in March 2014, Narendra had said in front of Nitish that if he wanted he could make the JDU candidate from Jamui, Uday Narayan Chaudhary, lose his deposit in the polls.

Nitish, however, was gracious in accepting him back.

"I welcome him on his ghar wapsi (return to home)," the chief minister said. "Whenever our colleagues leave us it is painful and I am really happy that he has returned. He left us on his own wish and today decided to return. I do not want to speak why he had decided to leave us," Nitish said.

Water resources minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh a.ka. Lalan Singh, however, did let lose a quip. "He had gone to HAMS but I am happy that very soon he realised that his real home is the JDU and not the one where he was staying on rent," Lalan said.

Narendra claimed he had all the HAMS national and state executive committee members with him. Sitting on the dais with Nitish on Monday were HAMS national president Gajendra Manjhi, HAMS Bihar Dalit cell president Rameshwar Rajak, state president of the HAMS Mahadalit cell Verma Kumar, and a few others.