Bihar: BJP includes Jitan Ram Manjhi’s name in credit rolls in a bid to dilute PM Modi's role

NEW DELHI: Marking a shift in strategy for the remaining three phases of elections in Bihar, BJP is including Mahadalit leader and ally Jitan Ram Manjhi’s name in the credit rolls. The party is clear that it does not want to go ahead with the entire focus on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Although the BJP leaders privately admit that they “could have done better” in the first phase of polling, they claim the party’s performance in the second phase seems to be much better. The party leaders are now claiming that “Manjhi-Modi magic” has worked in Phase-II.

“Manjhi plus Modi combine has worked and we are sweeping Gaya, Taimur, Rohtas and Pawal. Out of 32 seats in Phase-II, we are going to win at least 20,” claimed a BJP leader. “Phase-III and IV are home turf, so there s hould be no problem,” the leader claimed. By including Manjhi’s name, BJP is trying to dilute Modi’s role in Bihar polls and bring in state leaders. This is also in response to constant charge of Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar that Modi is not going to be the CM. In fact, after the third phase, the party could also bring in Ram Vilas Paswan’s name to balance things out.

Union minister and Bihar in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan told ET: “We always knew Magadha area was Manjhi’s area of influence. After the polling, it became clear that we had done well.” “Similarly, the third phase in Vasihali and Nalanda are areas of Paswan’s influence. I am sure we will do well,” he said.

PM Modi is scheduled to address a rally in Nalanda, Kumar’s constituency, on October 25. His rallies are also scheduled in Hajipur area that will cover Raghopur and Mohua constituencies of Prasad’s sons Tejaswi and Tej Pratap. “We have planned PM’s rallies carefully. There was no point of having any rallies close to Dussehra,” said a party leader.