Bihar document 8212; Nitish sidelines Paswan faction

Kumar refused to take the bait when asked by newspersons about the demand made by the Paswan loyalists. 8220;There is no answer to jealousy,8221; he said.

By forming the committee, Kumar has taken the lead in the battle for supremacy vis-a-vis his bete-noire Paswan. The seven-member panel includes Ballia MP Ram Jiwan Singh, who was known for his proximity to the Union Communications Minister.

Kumar said the committee would have discussions with the Union ministers from Bihar as well as the state Chief Minister before it prepared the development document in the light of the views expressed by a cross-section of MPs at a meeting held on August 24.

The other members of the core committee are Ranjan Prasad Yadav RJD, Madan Prasad Jaiswal BJP, Raghunath Jha Samata Party, Rajo Singh Congress, Nagendra Nath Ojha CPI and Subodh Roy CPM.