Manjhi quits NDA, to join Grand Alliance
In what could be a major setback to the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar in the penultimate year of parliamentary and assembly polls, former Bihar chief minister and Hindustani Awami MorchaSecular (HAM-S) president Jitan Ram Manjhi has announced his decision to sever ties with NDA.
The HAM was an ace NDA ally since 2015, the year it was formed. However, speculations of the party splitting from NDA were rife ever since the BJP leadership declined its demand to contest the Jehanabad bypoll slated for March 11. The Manjhi-led party had also demanded that NDA should give at least one seat to a HAM-S candidate for the six Rajya Sabha seat in Bihar. The Rajya Sabha elections are slated for March 23. Flanked by leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav following talks at his residence, Manjhi said ,“I will join the Grand Alliance.” The Grand Allithought ance in Bihar now comprises RJD, Congress and HAM-S. Besides, it also has a strong backing of the Sharad Yadav led faction of JD(U).
Tejashwi described Manjhi as his guardian and an old friend of his parents. “I welcome him. He is a big Dalit leader and the way he worked as CM in Bihar was praiseworthy. Leaders of similar should come on one platform. It is a setback to those who were speculating a split in the Grand Alliance in Bihar,” he said.
Manjhi is learnt to have also met former Bihar CM Rabri Devi. HAM leader and former Bihar education minister Brishin Patel had also met RJD chief Lalu Prasad in Ranchi during the latter’s production before court in a fodder scam case last month.
With the budget session of the Bihar assembly on, BJP leaders tried to feign ignorance about Manjhi’s decision.
“I am not aware about any such decision. Let’s see what is the fact,” said Bihar road construction minister Nand Kishor Yadav. Others also tried to feign ignorance, describing it as another “pressure tactic”.
According to BJP sources, senior party leaders were in touch with Manjhi to make him change his mind, but it might be too late.
Manjhi has been quite vocal in his demand for the Jehanabad seat, which the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party had also staked claim on it.
Manjhi had won the Mukhdumpur assembly seat in Jehanabad district on JD(U) ticket in 2010, but lost in 2015 on HAM-S ticket to RJD. Jehanabad has been Manjhi’s influence area, but the seat went to JD(U).
The JD(U) had earlier decided not to contest, but relented after BJP’s request.
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