BJP’s special treatment to Manjhi irks other NDA allies

According to sources, the BJP’s state unit and its key allies – Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) – have strongly opposed the party’s Central leadership’s plan to target the Dalit vote bank by giving nearly 30 seats to Manjhi’s newly formed party Hindustani <g data-gr-id="18">Awam</g> Morcha (HAM). “Does Manjhi have any credentials in Bihar? Has he ever been the leader of Dalits? Hopefully not, as he had won Assembly elections on the credentials of either Nitish Kumar or Lalu Prasad,” said a senior state BJP leader, requesting anonymity.

Even RLSP leaders have strongly opposed Manjhi for trying to extract his pound of flesh. “Manjhi was an unknown entity before being sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar by Nitish Kumar. He has suddenly emerged as a force to reckon with in Bihar politics just on the basis of his claims of having influence over 22 per cent Dalits voters. Manjhi’s claims are baseless as he is not the leader of Dalits,” a senior RLSP leader said, adding: “We will not let Manjhi dictate his terms in the name of Dalit vote bank. We welcome him in NDA, but we won’t allow him to bargain for odd reasons.”

Earlier, Paswan had also vowed to oppose five rebel JD(U) MLAs, who are now associated with Manjhi’s outfit. Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan’s younger brother and state LJP chief <g data-gr-id="21">Pasupati</g> Kumar Paras had said: “We will oppose the candidature of dissident JD(U) MLC and former agriculture minister Narendra Singh’s two MLA sons – Ajay Pratap (<g data-gr-id="22">Jamui</g>) and Sumit Kumar Singh (<g data-gr-id="23">Chakai</g>) – and disqualified MLAs Raju Singh (Sahebganj), Ajit Kumar (Kanti) and Anil Kumar (Tekari).”