Portfolio Politics: Jitan Ram Manjhi Challenges Repetition of Ministerial Berth to Son

Patna: Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, a key figure from the Hindustani Awam Morcha (S) and a constituent of the Nitish Kumar government, raised concerns on Monday about the portfolio allocation for his son, Santosh Kumar Suman. Expressing discontent, Manjhi questioned why the scheduled caste (SC) welfare department was once again assigned to his son, terming it a repetitive trend.

Addressing a party meeting in Gaya’s Wazirganj, the 79-year-old veteran politician said, “From 1984 to 2013, whenever I became a minister, I was made the scheduled caste welfare minister. Now my son Santosh Kumar Suman was also given the same department… Is only SC and ST welfare department there for us.”

Manjhi went on to question the perceived limitation imposed on him and his son, asking, “Are we not capable of handling other ministries?” The remarks, made in the context of the upcoming trust vote on February 12 for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s NDA government, reflect Manjhi’s dissatisfaction with the portfolio distribution.

Manjhi’s critique is closely tied to his demand for a more diverse representation within the cabinet, advocating for at least two berths to accommodate the support of his party’s four MLAs and an MLC. Notably, Manjhi had previously claimed that the Opposition alliance had even offered him the Chief Minister’s post.

As the political landscape in Bihar continues to evolve, Manjhi’s questioning of portfolio choices adds a layer of complexity to the internal dynamics of the Nitish Kumar-led government. The scrutiny over the allocation of ministries is anticipated to shape the political discourse leading up to the crucial trust vote scheduled for February 12.