Patna: A video of Union Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) Leader Jitan Ram Manjhi has reignited debate over electoral integrity in Bihar, as opposition parties allege manipulation during assembly elections.
In the footage, Manjhi, speaking in Magahi at a public event in Barachatti, Gaya, appears to claim that a candidate in the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections was losing by 2,700 votes, prompting him to contact the then Gaya District Magistrate Abhishek Singh, resulting in the candidate’s eventual victory. The video reportedly references the defeat of HAM’s Anil Kumar in the Tekari constituency.
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Manjhi said: “By mistake, he lost this time. If he had informed me, as in 2020, we could have found a solution. Then he was losing by 2,700 votes, but we managed to get him through. This time he lost by 1,600 votes. He didn’t even talk to me once.”
ये भारत सरकार में कैबिनेट मंत्री, बिहार के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री तथा हम पार्टी के संरक्षक श्री जीतन राम मांझी जी है जो ठगेश कुमार जैसे पिद्दी पालतू आयुक्त के मुँह पर करारा तमाचा जड़ डंके की चोट पर खुले मंच से चुनाव नतीजों में हेरा-फेरी, मशीनरी और धांधली से चुनाव जितने का शाही… pic.twitter.com/FSPyQgeBWB
— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) December 18, 2025
The video has sparked a wave of criticism from opposition parties. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) shared the clip on social media, accusing Manjhi of revealing “the royal formula for manipulating election results” and questioning the impartiality of the Election Commission. The Bihar Congress also described it as a “confession of vote theft” by a minister of the Modi government.
सुनिए मोदी सरकार के मंत्री जीतन राम मांझी से वोट चोरी का कबूलनामा!
2020 में हारते प्रत्याशी को DM से बात कर जितवाया गया।
2025 में संपर्क नहीं हुआ तो वही प्रत्याशी हारकर घर चला गया।अब बताइए—
जब नतीजे “संपर्क” से बदलते हों,
तो वोट की कीमत क्या रह जाती है? pic.twitter.com/txIZFhNCZ9— Bihar Congress (@INCBihar) December 18, 2025
However, Manjhi has denied any wrongdoing, claiming the video was tampered with. He wrote on social media: “Those who spit at the sky, you are forgetting that the spit you throw at the sky will fall back on your own face. Now Manjhi is a brand; he is not afraid of anyone.” The Bharatiya Janata Party defended him, with former state president Dilip Jaiswal saying: “The Union Minister hasn’t said anything wrong. He presented his point of view in a positive way.”
मेरे एक विडियो के साथ छेडछाड कर वायरल करने वाले कुछ लोगों को लगता है कि मुसहर के लाल को बदनाम कर देंगें।
ऐसे लोगों को मैं बता देना चाहता हूँ कि अब मुसहर के बेटे को कोई ना तो अपमानित कर सकता है ना ही बेवक़ूफ़ बना सकता है।
“आसमान पर थूकने वालों तुम यह भूल रहे हो कि आसमान पर फेंका…— Jitan Ram Manjhi (@jitanrmanjhi) December 18, 2025
The controversy comes in the wake of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning 220 seats in the Bihar Assembly elections. Opposition parties have repeatedly raised allegations of vote manipulation, collusion, and rigging.
Jitan Ram Manjhi, a former chief minister of Bihar, has had a long political career. Six members of his family are active in politics, including his son Santosh Suman, a minister and member of the legislative council, and several other relatives serving as MLAs under the HAM banner.
The resurfacing of the video has intensified scrutiny of Bihar’s electoral system, with critics calling for stronger measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the counting and reporting of votes.
