In a significant political development in Gaya, HAM (S) announced its candidate for the Gaya Lok Sabha seat, with the party’s patron and former Chief Minister, Jitan Ram Manjhi, slated to contest. Manjhi will be pitted against RJD’s candidate and sitting MLA from Bodh Gaya, Kumar Sarvjeet.
HAM (S) has secured one seat in the NDA alliance’s seat-sharing arrangement. The unveiling took place during a press briefing at Santosh Kumar Suman’s residence, who serves as the national president of HAM (S) and is the son of Jitan Ram Manjhi. Accompanied by members of the Central Election Committee and HAM’s national spokesperson, Nandlal Manjhi, Santosh Kumar Suman formally declared his father’s candidature, signaling the party’s readiness for the upcoming electoral battle in Gaya.
Later in the evening, Manjhi stirred a meeting of NDA allies with announcements regarding an upcoming visit to Ayodhya and poignant political analogies.
Manjhi announced plans for an Ayodhya visit on March 23, where they would pay homage to Ram Lalla, returning on March 24 to a festive atmosphere anticipating Holi celebrations on March 25, 26, and 27, with nominations scheduled for March 28.
Expressing his family’s devout nature, Manjhi emphasized their religious inclinations, citing his son’s recitation of Navah. He extolled Ayodhya not only for its spiritual significance but also as a thriving international tourist destination, attributing the region’s economic prosperity to the presence of Ram Lalla.
In a metaphorical turn, Manjhi likened the INDIA bloc to a frog, suggesting an air of arrogance among opposition allies, drawing parallels to the whimsical nature of the amphibian. He criticized the opposition for their alleged lack of cohesion, predicting their eventual fragmentation akin to a scattered deck of cards, citing recent symbol distribution without proper ticket allocation as evidence of indiscipline.
Highlighting the NDA’s commitment to social inclusion, Manjhi praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives, including the naming of the Ayodhya airport as Maharishi Valmiki Ayodhya Aerodrome, a move aimed at acknowledging the contributions of Valmiki, the revered author of the Ramayana. He refuted claims that the NDA was not representative of the economically disadvantaged, citing numerous welfare initiatives aimed at uplifting the marginalized sections of society.
