Manjhi to turn Modi supporter if Bihar gets special status

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Saturday said he will become a "supporter" of Narendra Modi if the prime minister grants special category status to the state.

"I will become a supporter of Modi if he grants special category status to Bihar," Manjhi said at a function to launch operation of a power plant in Muzaffarpur in the presence of union power minister Piyush Goyal.

"Our demand is directly related to the development of Bihar and its people," he said.

Manjhi urged the union ministers from Bihar - Ravi Shankar Prasad, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Radha Mohan Singh, Giriraj Singh and Ram Kripal Yadav - who were present at the inauguration to help Bihar in its development.

"I appeal to all union ministers from Bihar to ensure allocation of funds for road construction and houses for the poor," he said.

"If Modi has a little sympathy for the poor, backward and deprived sections of the society, he will grant special category status to Bihar because the chief minister is himself a Mahadalit," said Manjhi, who belongs to the Mushahar community.