Jitan Ram Manjhi’s party went blank in the 2019 elections as an ally of the RJD-Congress
New Delhi:
Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar today, months before the elections. His former rival Nitish Kumar reportedly played a key role in bringing him back to his side.
Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) was a key ally of Lalu Yadav and had contested the 2019 national elections as part of the opposition alliance.
His electoral performance has been poor; his party was only able to win one seat in the 2015 assembly elections as an ally of the BJP and was left blank in the 2019 elections as an ally of the RJD-Congress.
“We have forged an alliance with Janata Dal (United) and have become part of the NDA. There has been no discussion about the allocation of seats in the Bihar assembly election,” Jitan Ram Manjhi told reporters.
Manjhi ended his two-year association with Lalu Yadav and Congress last month.
For the past few weeks, he had been getting to know Nitish Kumar, his former bete noire and his reason for leaving the JDU. He retired in 2015 after being forced to resign as Chief Minister to make way for Nitish Kumar, who had installed him in the first place.
Reports suggest that Manjhi wants his party to compete between 15 and 20 of Bihar’s 243 seas, mainly in the Magadh region, his home territory. Nitish Kumar is reportedly ready to give around nine.
But Manjhi’s entry may cause discontent in the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), which is already at odds with Nitish Kumar. Both the HAM and the LJP have a similar support base, the Dalits, who make up more than 16 percent of the electorate. About 40 seats are reserved for them.
Chirag Paswan, who has addressed Nitish Kumar frequently in recent months, has called an LJP meeting next week.
Mr. Manjhi has a history of attacks on the LJP leadership; LJP believes Nitish Kumar brought him in to queer the Paswans’ field of play.
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