The opposition's Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) in Bihar suffered a big jolt as former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi announced his decision to part ways, saying his party Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) has been humiliated by the RJD. After multiple deadlines, primarily asking for a coordination committee between the alliance partners, Manjhi finally took the decisive step.
His party may join hands with JDU ahead of the polls. The development comes months before the state is expected to see assembly polls in October-November.
Manjhi's exit is a setback for RJD and Congress who were trying to cobble up a cohesive caste combination to contest the elections in the state. Manjhi belongs to the Musahar caste, a community traditionally involved in catching rats, which has 17 per cent (third largest) of the Dalit population in the state. Manjhi had broken ranks with Nitish Kumar to join hands with BJP during the 2015 elections when his party contested 21 seats, but could win only one. Manjhi was the sole winner. In 2015, JDU had aligned with RJD, but broke ranks in 2017.
The HAM, which held a meeting in Patna on Thursday, also authorised Manjhi to take a decision to who to align with. HAM is likely to go to NDA, while the question of merging his party with the JDU is still open.
During the 2015 elections, HAM had managed 2.3 per cent of the votes, while BJP had got 24.4 per cent—the highest—RJD, 18.4, and JDU 16.8 per cent vote share. Numerically, HAM may be a small player—the reason Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD's CM candidate, was not willing to accept Manjhi's demands.
With HAM likely to go over to the NDA, there will be additional pressure on Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party, which was demanding higher share of seats from within the grouping. They had threatened to go alone in the elections if their demands were not met. Manjhi's likely entry into the NDA fold will help in sending a message to the mahadalits in the state who have suffered during the pandemic, and floods.
Manjhi's exit will also put pressure on the Grand Alliance to hold seat-sharing talks with other allies so that the decision can be announced ahead of polls. During the Lok Sabha elections, the Grand Alliance had announced the names of candidates at the last minute, thus hampering their chances. The other key parties in the Mahagathbandhan, besides RJD and Congress, are Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) and Bollywood set designer Mukesh Sahni-headed Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP), both of which represent their respective caste groups.
