Jitan Ram Manjhi party to exit NDA

Former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha may leave the NDA in Bihar.

Sources claimed that members who attended the party’s review meeting in Patna on Wednesday asked Mr Manjhi “to move away from the NDA as the party (HAM) was losing support among the minorities and dalits”.

Speaking on the issue after the meeting, HAM state president Brishin Patel said, “We lost the support of the minorities in the recent Bihar elections as they were not in favour of the NDA and BJP and it is important for political parties to have a minority support base to win elections.”

There are indications that such voices of protest may intensify within HAM if the party remains with the NDA. Clarifying his stand, HAM chief Jitan Ram Manjhi told reporters in Patna after the meeting that party members, including some senior members, and some dalit think tanks have suggested that “going with the BJP was a bad idea and my party made a mistake by contesting Assembly elections as part of the NDA”.

He added, “Party has taken serious note of their suggestion but we will decide at our next meeting.”

Mr Manjhi said misinterpretation of statements during Assembly elections drove the dalit and minority communities away to other secular camps.

Former CM Manjhi later said he would like all NDA allies to hold a joint meeting to review the loss in the Bihar assembly election. “My request for a joint meeting was ignored by BJP leaders. Individually we have already analysed our losses, but the NDA must sit and find the reasons for the major loss in Bihar,” Mr Manjhi said.

He said his party would soon launch a massive statewide protest march against the policies of the state government and also an awareness drive to inform farmers that his party stood with them. “This government has become deaf and has completely ignored the farmers of the state. We will fight for the rights of our farmers and launch a drive to inform them that we are with them and will continue to fight for their rights,” the HAM chief said on Wednesday.

According to Mr Manjhi, his party will submit a memorandum to Bihar governor Ram Nath Kovind apprising him of the condition of law and order, education and agriculture in the state before February 10. “We have not lost any hope. In today’s meeting with our workers we have decided to focus mainly on the issues of agriculture and farmers and all our workers are ready to fight for the rights of farmers,” Mr Manjhi said.