We won't repeat Jharkhand mistake in Bihar, says CM Jitan Ram Manjhi

PATNA: Rueing the absence of an alliance among opposition parties in Jharkhand assembly polls which BJP is set to win, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today said such a mistake will not be repeated during the assembly elections in his state next year to stop the saffron party.

"Had there been an alliance of opposition parties in Jharkhand like one we have in Bihar, BJP would have been pegged back to half of the seats it has won in the neighbouring state," he told reporters while reacting to Jharkhand assembly poll results.

BJP had benefitted from mistakes committed by opposition parties in general elections by walking away with majority seats to form government despite polling only 30 per cent votes as against 46 per cent votes polled by anti-BJP forces, Manjhi said assessing the reasons for the saffron party's electoral performance.

"BJP has always benefitted from mistakes committed by us (lack of alliance among anti-BJP parties)," the Chief Minister noted and said that such mistakes will not be repeated during the assembly polls in Bihar.

"We will stop BJP's ' Vijay Rath' in Bihar next year," Manjhi said.

The Chief Minister said BJP has failed to live up to its expectation of attaining two-thirds majority in Jharkhand and forming its first-ever government in Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP had poured in huge money for publicity and campaign but the people of the two states have not been swayed by high-profile electioneering and "false" promises made by the party during campaigning, Manjhi said.

In a way, the assembly poll results in Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir is a warning for BJP as the people will not get impressed by publicity blitz with huge money and "false" promises, Manjhi said.