Patna, March 3: The RJD today distanced itself from the statement of its senior leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh on bringing back Jitan Ram Manjhi to the JDU fold.

RJD legislature party leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui claimed that the party had no such stand on Manjhi, a day after the RJD national vice-president had come out in the support of the former chief minister.

Rejecting the demand of Raghuvansh, Siddiqui said it was his personal opinion and did not match with the party line.

While batting for Manjhi, Raghuvansh had yesterday said that chief minister Nitish Kumar should appoint him as his deputy.

A day on, Siddiqui told The Telegraph: 'Raghuvansh ji is the national vice-president of the party. Our president, Lalu Prasad, can take a call on such an issue. The party does not agree with his statement and it may be his personal opinion as far as appointing Manjhi as the deputy chief minister is concerned.'

Siddiqui said: 'Manjhi himself has disapproved the idea and said that he was not interested in becoming the deputy chief minister. So, there should not be any doubt over this issue.'

Reacting on Raghuvansh's demand, Manjhi had said yesterday that he had served as a minister as well as the chief minister and so there was no logic behind becoming a deputy chief minister.

Raghuvansh was the second RJD leader to back Manjhi after Madhepura MP Pappu Yadav. The controversial parliamentarian's support to Manjhi did not go down well with Lalu's younger son Tejaswi Yadav.

Citing several meetings among RJD chief Lalu, JDU national president Sharad Yadav and chief minister Nitish, Siddiqui said the issue of Manjhi becoming a factor in the grand alliance was never discussed.

'Though I was not present in the meetings, I know that the issue of Manjhi was never discussed as far as the grand alliance is concerned. Whatever Raghuvansh ji said was his personal opinion,' iterated Siddiqui.

Raghuvansh had said yesterday that Nitish should bring back Manjhi and his supporters to the JDU fold, or else there could be problem in maha gathbandhan (bigger alliance).

Another senior RJD leader echoed Siddiqui on the comment of Raghuvansh.

'He (Raghuvansh) is a very senior leader in the party and should refrain from making such comments which could create problems inside the party. Our supreme leader is Lalu ji and one should always go by his opinion. Unless he does not say anything, everyone should keep mum.'?

Raghuvansh is one of most trusted aides of Lalu after senior leader and former MP Jagdanand Singh.