Manjhi playing Bihar dalit icon

Statements of chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi have helped him come closer to his community in Bihar. His blunt statements had made him an enemy of his own party but each time there were reports of his ouster leaders and people lined up in favour of him which compelled them to backtrack from their decision to remove him.

On Monday, once again he repeated that there is a need for a mahadalit chief minister. He, however, indicated that his own party leaders would propose the name of Nitish Kumar as the chief ministerial candidate but the growth of backwards and mahadalits in the state is more important and therefore the next chief minister must come from the background of his own community.

“I feel that Nitish Kumar is the suitable face for chief minister, but at this stage, the development of the dalit and mahadalit community is very important. They have been widely ignored by all the parties in the past. I would want a chief minister from the mahadalit community,” Mr Manjhi said soon after the Janata Darbar. He was quick to add, “everybody was putting themselves forward for the post but since I came the snatching for power stopped”. His smile was vicious when he made this statement and his smile raised many questions.

Former chief minister Nitish Kumar when asked to react over the statement of the chief minister said, “it will be decided by the leaders of the party at the right time.”

On Sunday, while the debate related to his absence from the mahadharna was taking place, he was busy addressing a closed-door and secret meeting of the officials belonging to SC and ST communities in his secretariat. JD(U) leaders remained tight-lipped over his secret meeting.