Jitan Ram Manjhi meets Bihar CM Nitish Kumar amid buzz of seat-sharing talks

PATNA: Amid a strong buzz about seat-sharing talks, HAM(S) president and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, who quit the opposition’s Grand Alliance a week ago, met JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar at his official residence on Thursday.
“Manjhi met CM Nitish Kumar at his residence, and both leaders held talks on political matters apart from other issues,” HAM(S) spokesperson Danish Rizwan told TOI.
However, Manjhi later denied holding any political discussions with the JD(U) president and claimed that his talks with Nitish were mainly related to development issues of his constituency.
Responding to a media query at his residence, Manjhi said everything (related to his entry into the NDA) would be clear by August 30. “I will talk to the media on August 30,” he said.
“Manjhi Ji had gone to meet the CM to discuss development issues related to his constituency, but when two big political leaders meet, they naturally talk about political issues. Undoubtedly, both leaders discussed political issues. Everything will be clear in the next two to three days. We will come out with a concrete decision by August 30,” Rizwan said.
Rizwan also said the doors of NDA were not closed for HAM(S). “We are thinking over all aspects before taking a final decision,” he said.
Sources in the HAM(S) said Manjhi met JD(U) chief to have a seat-to-seat discussion on those assembly constituencies where HAM(S) wanted to put up its candidates.
Sources said the HAM(S) mainly wants to contest Manjhi's sitting seat Imamganj, Barachatti, Sherghati, Tekari seats in Gaya district and his traditional Makhdumpur seat in Jehanabad. However, it is so far not clear whether Manjhi’s party would become a constituent of the NDA like the LJP, or it would merge with JD(U).
Manjhi had left JD(U) in 2015 after being forced to step down as the CM to make way for the return of Nitish. He later formed the HAM(S) and contested 21 seats during 2015 assembly polls as an NDA constituent. But his party won only one seat (Imamganj).
Soon after Nitish’s return in the NDA fold in July 2017, Manjhi walked out of it to join hands with the opposition’s Grand Alliance after bargaining a council seat for his son from the RJD.