Patna: Tensions ran high within the walls of the Bihar Legislative Assembly as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar engaged in a fiery exchange with Jitan Ram Manjhi, the patron of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), on Thursday. Manjhi, a former Chief Minister of Bihar, was fervently advocating for a review of the new Reservation Bill when Nitish interjected, attributing Manjhi’s elevation to the position of Chief Minister to his own “foolishness.”
“Does he (Manjhi) have any idea? It’s my fault that I made him the Chief Minister. He became CM because of my foolishness. Was anyone with you when I appointed you as CM?” questioned Nitish.
Nitish continued, insinuating that Manjhi now aspired to become a governor, gesturing toward BJP MLAs, and querying why he hadn’t been appointed to that role.
Manjhi, in response, countered the Chief Minister’s statement, asserting that he had been made Chief Minister to safeguard Nitish’s reputation. Manjhi claimed that Nitish had intended to use him as a mere “Rubber stamp” and, when he didn’t comply with instructions, had him removed.
The verbal duel unfolded during the discussion on the Reservation Amendment Bill in the Assembly, triggered by Manjhi’s expression of mistrust in the caste survey data. This incited the Chief Minister’s ire.
Following the intense exchange between Manjhi and Nitish, opposition members grew increasingly unruly.
Later, in the assembly premises, Manjhi shared his perspective with reporters, expressing his dismay with Chief Minister Nitish’s behavior: “CM Nitish is speaking nonsense in the House. I am older than him, but he talks to me rudely. The Chief Minister has lost his mental balance.” Manjhi added, “He underestimated me. They made me CM thinking that I am from the Bhuiyan caste and am simple. But I worked. I am hurt by whatever happened in the House today. The speaker did not even give me a chance to speak.”
Jitan Ram Manjhi held the position of the 23rd Chief Minister of Bihar, serving from May 20, 2014, to February 20, 2015.
