Can join anyone but Nitish, says Manjhi

PATNA: Nothing is impossible in politics but my joining hands with CM Nitish Kumar, said former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi at the politically significant Garib Swabhiman Rally held at Gandhi Maidan here on Monday. "I am a man of self-respect. I can break, but won't bend," he said while indicating a post-poll alliance with the BJP.

He asked those present to avenge the humiliation heaped on him by Nitish, who unseated him from the CM's chair. He also sought the crowd's consent to his cabinet's 34 decisions taken in the interest of the poor.

Taking a swipe at RJD chief Lalu Prasad for supporting Nitish by marching to Raj Bhavan and Rashtrapati Bhavan to dethrone a mahadalit CM, Manjhi said he would support Lalu if he distances himself from the CM. "But Lalu is dishonest (beimaan). Beware of his merger with Nitish's JD (U)," Manjhi warned the crowd comprising mostly people from the weaker sections of society.

On the issue of floating and naming a new party, for which he was authorized by his Hindustani Avam Morcha (HAM) leaders, Manjhi said he would decide the issue in a month, indicating he could stake claim to retain the JD (U) name, symbol and flag after completion of Janata Parivar merger.

Dubbing Nitish government as a failure on all fronts, Manjhi also drove home his point in favour of his decision to provide free electricity to farmers with five acres of land. He cited the incident of Nepura in Nitish's home district Nalanda, where police and power company officials allegedly misbehaved with womenfolk in the name of realizing electricity charges.

Manjhi had to resign on February 20, an hour before the trust vote in the assembly after a month-long power tussle with Nitish, who had made him the CM after JD (U) suffered humiliating defeat in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. He said all the previous dalit CMs of Bihar, be it Bhola Paswan Shastri and Ram Sundar Das, were removed after the political dust settled during their time. "When I also refused to be just a mask, Nitish got me removed," Manjhi said.

He recalled his decision to provide free education to all girls up to postgraduate level to prepare them for future responsibilities. Commenting on 50% reservation for women in panchayats, he said the local bodies were being run by MPs (mukhiya patis) and SPs (sarpanch patis) due to lack of education among women public representatives.

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