Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi has dropped a bombshell, alleging a malevolent plot involving the surreptitious introduction of “poisonous substances” into the sustenance of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Manjhi contends that these alleged machinations are orchestrated by those harboring ambitions to seize the coveted CM seat.
This stunning revelation from Manjhi comes in the aftermath of a heated exchange between him and Nitish Kumar during a legislative discussion on amplifying reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and Extremely Backward Classes to 65%, surpassing the Supreme Court-mandated 50% threshold.
Amidst allegations of declining mental acuity aimed at Nitish Kumar, Manjhi asserts, “It looks like that as per a conspiracy, someone is giving food with some poisonous substance in it to him (Nitish Kumar) to claim his (CM) seat. The result of it was the statement he made about women and the words he used against me yesterday.” Manjhi demands a high-level inquiry into this disturbing claim.
Nitish Kumar’s retort in the legislative assembly, questioning Manjhi’s comprehension, further escalated the confrontation. The HAM chief, emphasizing his seniority in age and political experience, accused Nitish Kumar of descending into vulgar language, necessitating an apology to both houses of the legislature.
The specter of political animosity and a history of power transitions casts a shadow over Bihar, with Manjhi having served as the Chief Minister from May 2014 to February 2015, stepping in when Nitish Kumar resigned after the JD(U)’s lackluster performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. This latest episode raises concerns about the deteriorating political decorum and deepening rifts within Bihar’s political landscape.
