Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday took a dig at the BJP stating that if they cared so much for Jitan Ram Manjhi, why didn't they declare him NDA's chief ministerial candidate.

Addressing an election campaign meeting in support of Uday Narayan Chaudhary at the agriculture farm ground at the Imamganj block headquarters, Nitish said: "He (Manjhi) attained political identity only when I made him chief minister of the state. Before becoming the chief minister, he had no identity. The BJP is befooling the Mahadalits in the name of Manjhi, who is contesting from two Assembly segments - Imamganj and Makhdumpur - on the symbol of the Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular."

He added: "Uday Narayan Chaudhary is also the JDU candidate from Imamganj, which he has won six times. Both Manjhi and Chaudhary belong to the Mahadalit community. The prestige of Manjhi is at stake from here as the NDA has projected him as a leader of the Mahadalits."

Making an appeal to the people to vote for Chaudhary, Nitish said: "He (Chaudhary) has worked for development of the constituency. It is on the basis of the work done and the development initiatives that he is seeking people's vote in his favour. On the other hand, the basis of BJP asking for votes is no work and false promises. The Prime Minister talks about development, while women in Gujarat are suffering from malnutrition."

Attacking the BJP for its announcement to provide two-wheelers to students, Nitish said: "How can a minor get a driving licence issued in their name?"

Enumerating the achievements of his government, Nitish said during his tenure 10.5 lakh girls were given bicycle. "Girls started attending school owing to schemes of the state government like distributing bicycles and uniforms," he said.

He announced to provide Rs 1,000 per month as allowance to unemployed youths and computer training to students under Kaushal Vikas Yojana if voted to power.