On Thursday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s ally Jitan Ram Manjhi, leader of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) reached New Delhi, where he met with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Political circles’ temperature got hyped up after this meeting from Delhi to Patna. Following his meeting with the Union Home Minister developed speculation of him again joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 

At the meeting, he said, “We met with Amit Shah just to hand over the memorandum.” Manhji asserted that he has committed to abide by Kumar and decline any chance of associating with the BJP. On the other hand, the Bihar chief minister is also in Delhi to meet with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi and other key opposition party leaders. His main initiative is to boost and build up the environment of stronger opposition ahead of the Lok Sabha 2024 general election.

Manjhi met with Shah at the request of his political party, who are pushing for Dashrath Manjhi to receive the ‘Bharat Ratna’, which is India’s most prestigious civilian award. Dashrath Manjhi is a local legend who spent over 20 years digging a road through the mountains with his own hands, and his story has been celebrated in both folklore and film since his passing.

After his meeting with Shah, he hurried to meet Kumar in order to avoid any impression that he was about to change his stance once again, as the BJP attempts to win over smaller parties in Bihar ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.  Manjhi was selected by Kumar to take over as chief minister after the JD(U) performed poorly in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. However, he protested against being asked to step down for his mentor in 2015 and joined forces with the BJP. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he sided with the RJD-led alliance, while the JD(U) and BJP formed a coalition. As a prominent Dalit leader, Manjhi wields influence within the “Manjhi” community in various regions of Bihar.