Manjhi lauds Pappu Yadav amid speculations of him joining NDA

Patna, July 12: Former chief minister and Hindustani Avam Morcha (HAM) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi on Sunday alleged that incumbent Nitish Kumar was greedy for the top post in the state and claimed that the NDA would very easily topple the grand Janata Parivar alliance if Pappu Yadav joins the fold.

Addressing a joint press conference along with Jan Kranti Adhikar Morcha (JKAM) chief Pappu Yadav, Manjhi thanked the former for his constant support.

“Our cultural, political, social ideologies with Pappu Yadav have been in sync for a long time. In fact, I even thank him for supporting me throughout, when I was the chief minister and even after. In fact, I have also taken a lot of decisions on important matters after consultations with him,” he said.

Manjhi further lashed out at the Janata Parivar alliance, comprising the Janata Dal (United) and Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and said that no development took place in Bihar under their rule.

“A grand alliance has taken place between Nitish and Lalu but no development work has been done for the poor under their reign in the last 25 years. The policies that have been undertaken in their name, benefits of the same have never reached them. While when I started working for the poor, implemented the policies that were undertaken in their name and proved myself to the people of Bihar, I was asked to resign,” Manjhi told ANI here.

“Because of Nitish Kumar’s desire and greed for the political chair, I was threatened, insulted. Maybe he did all of this which should not have been done in the first place because I am a leader of the Dalits. And today he is implementing all those policies which I had formulated. He has implemented seven such policies. If the people of Bihar elects such a person who works for the political seat and not the society, then there will be dark days ahead for the people of Bihar,” he added.

Manjhi further said that discussion with Pappy Yadav was still on whether he would join the NDA fold.

“The discussion is not complete yet. Discussion regarding seat sharing is yet to be happen. If Pappu Yadav joins us, it will be easy to topple the grand alliance of Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad in the state,” said Manjhi.

The BJP has joined forces with Upendra Khuswaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) for the assembly elections in Bihar, scheduled to be held later this year.

However, the coming together of RJD, JD(U), Congress and NCP under the Janata Parivar presents a very formidable challenge to the NDA in the assembly elections to be held later this year.(ANI)