Blow to Bihar alliance, Manjhi quits

HAM chief upset with RJD over no talks before taking decisions

Hindustani Awam Morcha –Secular (HAM-S) on Thursday announced that it has decided to part ways with the grand alliance led by the RJD in Bihar.

HAM leaders said that party chief Jitan Ram Manjhi has been upset with the RJD for not consulting alliance partners before taking any decisions and ignoring his demands for the formation of the coordination committee.

Sources said that besides Mr Manjhi others in the party were also in favour of snapping ties with the RJD and forming an alliance with other like-minded political parties in Bihar ahead of the Assembly polls slated to be held later this year.

The final ultimatum served to the RJD for the formation of coordination committee had ended a month ago following which it was being speculated that Mr Manjhi may quit the alliance and join hands with either the JD(U) or BJP. On Thursday after the decision to quit the grand alliance was announced HAM spokesperson Danish Rizwan said that “those who don’t listen to coalition partners will not listen to the people after coming to power. The decision to quit the grand alliance has been taken after our repeated demand for the formation of a coordination committee was turned down by the RJD”.

While both RJD and Congress have been silent on the development, BJP hailed Mr Manjhi’s decision to quit the grand alliance.

◗ SOURCES SAID that besides Mr Manjhi others in the party were also in favour of snapping ties with the RJD and forming an alliance with other likeminded political parties in Bihar ahead of the Assembly polls later this year