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Who is Jitan Ram Manjhi?
Jitan Ram Manjhi is an Indian politician and a significant figure in Bihar's political landscape. He won the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Bihar's Gaya constituency with 494,960 votes out of the 963,676 total votes, or 51.36 per cent of vote share. His main opponent Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate Kumar Sarvjeet managed to bag 40.8 per cent of vote share. On 10 June, 2024, Manjhi was appointed as the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises under the newly formed NDA govt after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He has previously served as the 23rd Chief Minister of Bihar from May 2014 to February 2015. Born on October 6, 1944, in Mahkar, Gaya district, Bihar, Manjhi comes from the Musahar community, which is a Dalit community. His commitment to education and social service laid the groundwork for his future political career.
Educational background
Jitan Ram Manjhi completed his early education in his native village in the Gaya district of Bihar. He pursued higher education at Magadh University in Bodh Gaya, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Political History
Political History
Manjhi began his political journey with the Indian National Congress (INC) and was first elected as a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1980 from the Fatehpur constituency. Over the years, he shifted his political allegiance several times, joining the Janata Dal and later the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), before finally aligning with the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)].
Throughout his career, Manjhi held various ministerial positions in the Bihar government, handling portfolios such as SC/ST Welfare, Transport, and Revenue & Land Reforms. His administrative experience and focus on social justice and development earned him recognition as a dedicated public servant. In May 2014, Jitan Ram Manjhi was appointed as the Chief Minister of Bihar following the resignation of Nitish Kumar. Kumar stepped down after his party, JD(U), performed poorly in the 2014 general elections. Manjhi's appointment was seen as a move to strengthen the support base among the Dalit community. During his tenure as Chief Minister, Manjhi implemented several welfare schemes aimed at uplifting marginalised communities and improving social infrastructure. However, Manjhi's term as Chief Minister was marked by political instability and internal conflicts within the JD(U). Disagreements between Manjhi and Nitish Kumar led to a power struggle, culminating in Manjhi's resignation in February 2015. Nitish Kumar then returned to the position of Chief Minister.
Following his resignation, Manjhi formed his own political party, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) [HAM(S)], in April 2015. The party aimed to represent the interests of marginalised communities and weaker sections of society. In the 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, HAM(S) aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Although HAM(S) did not win many seats, it remained an important ally in Bihar's political scenario. Manjhi's political journey took another turn in 2018 when HAM(S) exited the NDA and joined the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led alliance, Mahagathbandhan, ahead of the 2019 general elections. This move was seen as an effort to consolidate support among the opposition parties against the BJP-JD(U) coalition in Bihar. In the 2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, HAM(S) contested as part of the Mahagathbandhan. However, post-elections, Manjhi realigned with the NDA, rejoining the alliance in a strategic move to maintain his political relevance and continue his efforts towards social justice and development.
Jitan Ram Manjhi's political career is characterised by his focus on social justice, particularly for marginalised communities. His journey from a humble background to holding the highest political office in Bihar reflects his dedication to public service.