Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar has ruled out the possibility of joining the electoral fray in the forthcoming Bihar state assembly elections.

Talking to newsmen soon after Sharad Yadav released a list of 71 candidates, Nitish, who has been projected as the leader of the JD-U and Bhartiya Janata Party combine in the state, said he did not want to be tied to one constituency.

"I am contesting 243 seats. Why do you want to limit me to just one. In case we win and I become the chief minister then I can always contest from any assembly seat," he said jokingly.

Nitish and Yadav denied the suggestion that Bihar could once again produce a hung assembly.

"This is not possible because most of the Lok Janashakti candidates who won last time have either joined JD-U or the Bharatiya Janata Party. Hence we would get the required number to form the party," Nitish said.

• February Bihar Polls

He was confident that the ground realities favoured the BJP/JD-U combine this time. "Earlier, the people had multiple choice for voting. But this time that factor is not valid. All those votes that went to (Ram Ramvilas Paswan's) Lok Janshakti Party will come to us," he said.

He said the role of the governor will be a major issue in the coming assembly elections. "We are also keeping an eye on the hearing in the Supreme Court. On September 29, the court is going to hear the solicitor general of India and then it could reserve its judgement.

"But in case the old assembly is revived, then we are ready for it as well," he said.

In the first list there are thirteen women candidates who have been nominated by the party. Four candidates with criminal records have also found a place in the list.

"These include Narender Pandey from Peero, Vijay Shukla alias Munna Shukla from Lal Ganj, Shyam Bihari Parsad from Aadapur and Manorajan Kumar Singh alias Dhumal Singh from Baniyapur.