Patna, Jun 16 (IANS): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday termed his predecessor Jitan Ram Manjhi as a "betrayer" and asserted such leaders are never forgiven by the people.

A day after Manjhi announced that his Hindustani Awam Morcha would join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance to contest upcoming Bihar assembly polls, Nitish Kumar for the first time used strong words to attack Manjhi,who was handpicked by him as his replacement when he quit last year after the Janata Dal-United's rout in the Lok Sabha polls.

"Manjhi is a betrayer... such a 'Vibhishan' will be never pardoned by the people," he told media in a response to a question how far will Manjhi's joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party impact the grand alliance of JD-U, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party.

He noted Vibhisan had sided with Lord Ram against Ravan but people hardly named their children after him.

"People never accept a betrayer, it is a part of our age-old culture and tradition," said Nitish Kumar..

Manjhi launched the HAM after being expelled from the JD-U for not stepping down as chief minister.