Patna, Feb 9 (IANS): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Friday said he was "pained" by leaders of his Janata Dal-United (JD-U) putting his name as a prime ministerial candidate, and termed such people "not my well-wishers".

"Whoever put my name for the PM's post, he is not my well-wisher. All this pains me," Nitish Kumar told media persons in his reaction to statements of some JD-U leaders calling him the best candidate for the PM post.

Saying it was a useless thing to put his name for the top post, Nitish Kumar reiterated that he is not in the race for PM. "I am not at all in the race for the PM's post," he said.

A few days ago, senior JD-U leader Hari Kishore Singh said that several names were doing the rounds for the prime minister's post but Nitish Kumar was the best among them.

"Going by the reputation and experience of governance with justice, Nitish Kumar ranks first among those in the race for the post," added Singh, who is also vice chairman of the Bihar State Planning Board.

Some other JD-U leaders also backed Singh's contention.

The JD-U is the second-largest party in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Last year, Panchayati Raj and Rural Works Minister Bhim Singh had triggered a controversy when he asked the BJP to declare Nitish Kumar as the NDA's prime ministerial nominee.

He, however, expressed his regret after Nitish Kumar aired his unhappiness over his remarks.