BJP placates Manjhi, unveils seat-sharing formula for Bihar

Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha given 20 seats; some of his candidates can contest on BJP symbol

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah succeeded in placating Mahadalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi on Monday with an offer of 20 seats for his party, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), to contest in the forthcoming Bihar polls as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Manjhi was also promised some of his party’s candidates could contest on BJP symbol.
 

The four constituents of the NDA announced their seat-sharing formula for the 243 seats of Bihar Assembly polls at a joint press conference at the BJP headquarters. The development comes after days of persuading Manjhi, who was miffed at rival Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) being offered 40 seats. (THE BATTLE FOR BIHAR)

According to the seat-sharing formula, the BJP will contest 160 of the 243 seats. Of the remaining 83 seats, LJP will contest 40 seats, while 23 seats go to Koeri-OBC leader Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Loktantrik Samata Party (RLSP), besides 20 seats to Manjhi’s party.  Manjhi’s party had earlier been offered 13 to 15 seats. Manjhi argued he represented the substantial Mahadalit community while Paswan only represented his own ‘Paswan’ community.

There were reports that Paswan was also upset Manjhi’s seats had been revised. However, after the official announcement, both Manjhi and Paswan’s son Chirag said their respective parties were “satisfied” with the seat-sharing formula.

At the announcement at the BJP headquarters, Shah was flanked by other NDA leaders to show a ‘united’ NDA. “There is no tug of war. There is no tension. You can see their smiling faces,” said Shah, pointing to Paswan and Manjhi after days of parleys, which saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi also speaking to these leaders.

Shah claimed Manjhi was thrown out of his room at Bihar Niwas a bit after midnight by officials under instructions from the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government and had to spend the night at Rajasthan Bhavan.

He rejected the argument that the Bihar government asked him to leave as his stay there was in violation of the Model Code of Conduct, saying he could have stayed there by paying the required tariff. Janata Dal (United) leader K C Tyagi said Manjhi moved out as he was finding the room too small.

Manjhi allegedly having to leave Bihar Niwas came hours after his son had been detained by the police on Sunday when he was found with Rs 4.5 lakh.

He was later released when he explained that the money was for constructions purposes.

BJP's Central Election Committee will hold its first meeting on Tuesday to discuss candidate selection. The Assembly elections are scheduled on October 12, 16, 28, November 1 and 5.