Former Bihar Chief Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday said that he has quit National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and would join Rashtriya Janata Dal-led Grand Alliance.
The formal announcement of the new political alliance would be made tonight.
Leader of Opposition Tejaswi Yadav reached Mr. Manjhi’s residence on Wednesday morning and after a closed-door meeting, Mr. Manjhi declared that he has come out of the NDA.
Mr. Manjhi wanted to contest by-poll on Jehanabad Assembly Seat but the BJP requested ruling alliance JD(U) to contest the seat and JD(U) fielded Abhiram Sharma as party candidate. The development apparently had hurt the Dalit leader and hence decided to quit NDA.
Political buzz in the State was that Mr Manjhi wanted his son to field from Jehanabad seat in the by-poll and establish his political career.
Earlier, senior HAM(S) leader Brishan Patel had met RJD chief Lalu Prasad in Ranchi jail.
“Mr. Manjhi is like my guardian and he will get his due respect in our grand alliance”, said Mr. Tejaswi Yadav.
Welcoming Mr. Manjhi into the Grand Alliance, State Congress president (in-charge) Kaukab Quadri said, “it’s a happy moment for us… though, he (Mr Manjhi) took a late decision to come out of NDA where he was not getting due respect, but its right decision.”
