I was mocked by CM Nitish Kumar for forming HAM, alleges Manjhi
Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday took a swipe at National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, alleging that Kumar once “mocked” him for forming the Hindustani Awam MorchaSecular (HAM-S) and expressed doubts over his ability to lead the party.
Manjhi, who joined the Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) in 2005 and later went on to become the first Mahadalit chief minister of Bihar in 2014, had quit the party in 2015 and floated the HAM-S. “In 2015 , when I got disassociated from CM Kumar to form my own outfit, Kumar had told some people how I would be able to run a party as I had no money. Well, I can say now, my party is running at full speed. I do not know with what feeling CM Kumar had expressed such doubt’s but I want to thank him,” Manjhi said, taking a dig at the JD(U) strongman, who is a senior ally in the NDA government.
HAM(S) , with Manjhi being the sole MP of the party, is also a constituent of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
Manjhi, who briefly realigned with Kumar in 2020, securing a ministerial berth for his son Santosh Suman, also recalled his fallout with the JD(U) chief last year, when the Bihar CM was busy bringing together antiBJP parties which culminated in the formation of the INDIA bloc.
“CM Kumar had said that either you merge your party or leave the alliance. I discussed with many partymen and did not go for a merger and joined the NDA. I am thankful to the NDA and PM Narendra Modi. My son and president of HAM(S) Santosh Kumar Suman is not only a MLC for six years but also now a minister of three departments,” said the 79-yearold Gaya MP.