Bihar polls: Manjhi-led HAM to join NDA on September 3

Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha - Secular (HAM-S) will join National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on September 3 in Bihar. Manjhi was earlier part of the NDA but left the alliance to join 'Mahagathbandhan' (Grand Alliance) in 2018.

Patna: Ahead of Bihar Assembly polls, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) President and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi is set to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Thursday.

Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) quit the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) on August 20. Since then, there was speculation that he might merge his party with Janta Dal-United (JD-U). Manjhi also met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday. Manjhi was earlier part of the NDA but left the alliance to join 'Mahagathbandhan' (Grand Alliance) in 2018.

Sources further said Manjhi also looked for a tie-up with the 'third front'. He has also met leaders of other political parties like Pappu Yadav of Jan Adhikaar Party (JAP) and Mukesh Sahani-led Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) but apparently the existence of the third front seems to be very difficult in the current scenario.

On the other hand, top leaders of BJP and JD-U are eyeing Dalit vote bank through Manjhi in Bihar as they believe that he could be an asset to them, sources added.

Bihar has a total of 7,21,40,945 electoral voters. Among them, 15 per cent voters belong to Dalit and Mahadalit community, 17 per cent Muslims, 50 per cent OBC, 19 per cent upper castes (General), and 2 per cent Adiwasi.

Besides Manjhi, Ram Vilas Paswan and other leaders also represent Dalit and Mahadalit communities in Bihar. Currently, the NDA has three main political parties- JDU, BJP, and LJP.

Bihar is expecting the polls to go ahead as scheduled around November.

Inputs from agencies