North India Statesman
News India Live, Digital Desk: Discord and Love in Relationship With Nitish: The politics of Bihar is always known for its dramatic fluctuations and unexpected alliances, and there are some characters on this political theater whose political journey has been very interesting. One of them is former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, whose political journey, especially his relationship with Nitish Kumar, describes the unique story of ‘estrangement and love’. His party ‘Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular’ Ham-S, despite being small in size, remains an important factor in the key to power in Bihar. Jitan Ram Manjhi has created his political identity as a Dalit leader. He is considered a leader of a deep penetration among the Dalit population of Bihar, especially the Mushar community. After the JDU’s defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Nitish Kumar resigned as Chief Minister and suddenly entrusted this responsibility to Jitan Ram Manjhi. This decision was considered a big masterstroke in Bihar politics at that time, and many people considered it a beginning of deep political friendship between Manjhi and Nitish. However, their love affair did not last long. After becoming the Chief Minister, Manjhi gradually started taking independent decisions, which Nitish Kumar did not like. As a result, amid the change in political equations, Nitish Kumar made up his mind to return and asked for his resignation from Jitan Ram Manjhi. There was a tremendous confrontation over this and Manjhi refused to resign, after which he was expelled from JDU. It was here that the story of ‘estrangement’ from Nitish started and Jitan Ram Manjhi formed his own party ‘Hindustani Aamam Morcha (Secular)’. After this, Jitan Ram Manjhi has changed several times. He went with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), then became part of the Grand Alliance Grand Alliance, and recently he has once again returned with NDA. Even though the number of MLAs of his party in Bihar is low, his hold on the Scheduled Caste community gives him the role of an important ‘kingmaker’. Political experts believe that whenever elections come close or coalitions are formed, leaders like Manjhi become a ‘big bet’, without which it becomes difficult to sit political equation often. His reversal history, where he was once considered the right hand of Nitish Kumar and then became his strong opponent, and then he is ready to come together for political gains. In Bihar politics, he has now become a prominent player whose political corridors are eyeing every trick, because his presence can often become an important factor of any coalition coming to power or not.
