Nitish Kumar, who quit as Bihar's Chief Minister after his Janata Dal United lost the national election, has chosen his close aide Jitan Ram Majhi as his successor. Mr Majhi, a minister in the state government, belongs to one of the most underprivileged castes in the state. Though he was among the JD (U) candidates who were defeated in the polls, party sources say his elevation to the top post is an attempt to consolidate lower caste votes ahead of assembly elections due next year.