Ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls, as part of the “Aya Ram, Gaya Ram” tradition, former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Thursday quit Mahagathbandhan, led by the RJD. Manjhi gave no indication about the future of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), but given the lack of option it has, it is understood that he would go back to the NDA.
Manjhi has so far not been able to play any significant role in wooing even his Dalit voters in previous polls.
If he joined the NDA, he could at best hope to get a chance to contest four-five seats of central Bihar.
The HAM decided to walk out of the the five parties Opposition coalition in Bihar at the party’s “core committee” meeting convened at Manjhi’s residence, said party spokesman Danish Rizwan.
“HAM will no longer be a constituent of the grand alliance. The party has decided to leave mahagathbandhan,” said Rizwan.
Apart from HAM, the mahagathbandhan in Bihar comprises of RJD, Congress, Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) and Bollywood set designer Mukesh Sahni headed-Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP).
Blaming the RJD for the failure to form a coordination committee within the grand alliance for its better functioning, the HAM leader said, “Leaders who do not listen to the constituent partners, will they listen to the people after coming to power?”
“Our leader Manjhi has categorically stated that there is no point in continuing with the alliance which does not follow democratic norms and listen to its partners, “Rizwan said.