Patna: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary met Union MSME Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha- Secular (HAM-S) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi at his residence in Patna on Saturday, fueling speculation over seat-sharing within the National Democratic Alliance ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections.
HAM-S national president and state minister Santosh Kumar Suman was also present during the meeting.
Sources suggest Union Minister Manjhi expressed dissatisfaction with the NDA’s proposed seat-sharing formula, reportedly insisting on a minimum of 20 Assembly seats for his party, despite demanding 40.
Jitan Ram Manjhi has categorically said he will not “repeat the mistake” of the Lok Sabha elections.
However, the Union Minister publicly downplayed any “rift”, stating, “There is no conflict here; everything is more or less decided regarding how many seats each party will receive to contest the Bihar Assembly elections. Whoever gets the seats will have to be content with the allocation. Bihar needs an NDA government. Opposition parties are spreading false narratives, and the only way to counter that is to ensure the NDA’s victory in 2025.”
He added that his meeting with Deputy CM Choudhary also included discussions about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Gaya on August 22, with possible venues being Bela, Wazirganj, or another location in the district.
After the meeting, Santosh Suman described it as a formal interaction between Samrat Choudhary and Jitan Ram Manjhi focused mainly on preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit.
“There is no resentment in NDA. Seat sharing will be done on time. We have discussed the venue of the Prime Minister’s rally in Gaya, scheduled on August 22,” he said.
Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular had contested on seven seats in Bihar during the 2020 Assembly elections and won four seats.
As the party has a strong hold among the Mahadalit community across the state, especially in Gaya, Nawada, Jehanabad and other districts, Union Minister Manjhi is bargaining more this time, citing a good strike rate in the 2020 Assembly elections.
IANS
Bhojpuri singer Ritesh Pandey quits Jan Suraaj Party, cites desire to serve people through music
Patna: Popular Bhojpuri singer and youth icon Ritesh Pandey, who had contested the Kargahar Assembly seat on a Jan Suraaj Party ticket, created a stir in Bihar's political circles on...
Rape and murder of minor girl triggers massive protests in Bihar’s Khagaria
Patna: The alleged rape and murder of a five-year-old minor girl in Bihar's Khagaria district has sparked widespread outrage, with angry residents staging a massive protest on Thursday. Protesters forcibly...
Tej Pratap meets Deputy CM Sinha; fuels speculation of new political equations ahead of Makar Sankranti feast
Patna: After being sidelined by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo and his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and shunned by his family, Janshakti Janata Dal chief Tej Pratap Yadav appears...
Offensive remark on women from Bihar sparks political storm; MLA announces Rs 10 lakh reward
Patna: An offensive remark allegedly made by Girdhari Lal Sahu, husband of Uttarakhand Minister Rekha Arya, regarding women from Bihar has triggered a major political uproar in the eastern state....
Posters demanding Nishant Kumar’s foray into active politics surface in Patna
Patna: After the sweeping victory of the NDA in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, voices within the Janata Dal (United) have grown louder, demanding the entry of Chief Minister Nitish...
‘Govt residences must be vacated eventually’: Tej Pratap reacts to Rabri Devi’s 10 Circular Road bungalow exit
Patna: Political temperatures in Bihar remain high over the Lalu Prasad Yadav family vacating former Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s official residence at 10 Circular Road in Patna. Amid the...
Bihar: Renowned doctor kidnapped; escapes after jumping out of moving car
Patna: A sensational kidnapping attempt of a renowned doctor has come to light in Chhapra city, Bihar, triggering concern over law and order in the district. The incident took...
Father, three daughters found dead in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur; probe on
Patna: In a shocking case in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, a father and his three daughters allegedly committed suicide, triggering panic in the village. The incident occurred on Sunday night...
Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin appointed BJP’s National Working President
Patna: Making a major organisational change, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday appointed Bihar cabinet minister Nitin Nabin as the party’s National Working President. The decision was approved...
Man kills two children over family dispute in Bihar’s Purnea
Patna: Two children were killed, and another sustained serious injuries after a man allegedly assaulted them in Bihar's Purnea district, officials said on Wednesday. The incident took place in Dingoz...
Week after Bihar results, RJD cries foul as its 3 candidates lose by thin margin
Patna: RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of influencing the outcome of the Bihar Assembly elections by rejecting a large number of postal ballots...
Take all blame for loss; won’t quit politics: Prashant Kishor’s first reaction on Bihar rout
Patna: Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Tuesday spoke to the media for the first time after the party’s crushing defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections and held himself responsible...
