While the dust has not even settled in West Bengal, where Mukul Roy re-joined the Trinamool Congress, a meeting between Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi has sparked speculation about a realignment of political forces in Bihar.
Lalu Prasad Yadav's elder son, Tej Pratap, on Friday, visited former Bihar Chief Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi at the latter’s residence.
After the meeting, Tej Pratap told reporters that the door is open for Manjhi and it is up to the HAM leader to decide whether he wants to join the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in Bihar.
"I came to uncle's (Manjhi) house to take his blessings," Tej Pratap said.
Manjhi, on the other hand, said that there is no question of leaving the NDA. "My party is a part of the NDA led by Nitish Kumar in Bihar. I talked to Tej Pratap about social issues, not political. I am pleased that he came to my house. It is not surprising, as Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav too had visited my house earlier," Manjhi was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.
HAM is an alliance partner of the NDA government in Bihar, which is reported to be close to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Tej Pratap's comment assumes significance as Manjhi has been critical of the BJP of late.
On Friday, Manjhi tweeted that the BJP came to power by promising 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas', but now the saffron party has only one agenda, which is 'appeasement'.
On Thursday, Manjhi and his party had slammed BJP leaders for terming madrasas as hubs of terrorist activities in Bihar, two days after an explosion at a madrasa in Banka district.
(With inputs from IANS)
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