Jitan Manjhi to contest from two assembly seats

Jitan Ram Manjhi, the former Bihar chief minister and president of the Hindustan Awami Morcha (HAM), will contest from two constituencies in the state assembly polls, a party official said on Tuesday.

"Manjhi will contest from Imamganj assembly constituency and Makhdumpur assembly constituency as HAM candidate," party spokesperson Danish Rizwan said, adding that the decision was taken on Sunday.

Imamganj city is in Gaya, Manjhi's home district which is considered Maoist-affected. He will contest against Bihar assembly Speaker and JD-U candidate Uday Narain Choudhary from here.

Manjhi had earlier announced he will contest from Makhdumpur assembly constituency in Jehanabad district.

Last Friday HAM released its first list of 13 candidates for the Bihar assembly polls and on Sunday the party released its second list of seven candidates.

HAM is contesting from 20 seats in the 243-member Bihar assembly as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance. The BJP is contesting 160 seats, the Lok Janshakti Party 40 seats and the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party 23 seats.

Bihar will witness five-phased elections between October 12 and November 5. Counting of votes will take place on November 8.