Former Bihar CM Manjhi keeps political options open

Former Bihar Chief Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha President Jitan Ram Manjhi on Sunday sought to keep his political options open, saying no one knew of the future.

Manjhi's HAM is presently an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance in Bihar.

"Politics is a play of possibilities. If (Bihar Chief Minister) Nitish Kumar can join hands with (Rashtriya Janata Dal chief) Lalu Prasad, my relations with both were never bitter. Who know the future," the HAM President asked.

Manjhi said political differences between Nitish and Lalu were very deep but still they joined hands in Bihar before the assembly elections. "My differences with Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad are only superficial," he quipped.

The HAM leader also said praised Nitish Kumar, a Janata Dal-United leader, saying the latter made him the Chief Minister.

"I had thought my political journey will not move beyond becoming a legislator and minister but Nitish Kumar made me the Bihar Chief Minister. It was his greatness."

In the 2015 assembly polls, the HAM contested 20 seats but won only one -- Manjhi's Imamganj seat in his home district Gaya.

--IANS

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