Patna, June 16: Former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has decided to contest the Assembly elections burying speculation that he had done an underhand deal with the BJP for an honourable rehabilitation in lieu of joining the NDA fold.
Manjhi has also decided to vacate 1 Aney Marg, the official residence of the chief minister, after losing the state's top legislative post in February.
After being removed from the post of chief minister by the JDU, Manjhi had revolted against the party and he, along with his supporter legislators, had floated a new political party - Hindustani Awam Morcha. However, the same name had already been registered with the Election Commission, and Manjhi's political outfit would now be known as Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular (HAMS). After his recent meeting with the top BJP leadership in Delhi earlier this month, Manjhi had announced to join the BJP-led NDA for contesting the Assembly elections.
Political circles were ripe with the speculation that Manjhi had brokered a secret deal with the BJP for this alliance and was likely to be rehabilitated honourably by the BJP. Manjhi, however, had denied this, announcing: "Such things were creation of imagination of a few people."
The decision that Manjhi would contest election was taken in the HAMS core committee meeting here on Tuesday. Besides Manjhi, the party's state president, Shakuni Choudhary, former ministers Narendra Singh and Nitish Mishra among others attended it.
A hint regarding such a decision was given by Manjhi himself on June 14 when during a media interaction the former chief minister said he had personally wanted to contest the Assembly elections but would take a call on this front as per the decision of the party's core committee.
"Our political opponents were spreading canards against Manjhi hence we decided that he should contest the election and take any call on his future plans only after the Assembly polls," a HAMS core committee member said.
On the other hand, Manjhi today finally decided to shift to his ministerial bungalow 12-M Strand Road in June-end.
"Manjhi ji has now decided to vacate the 1 Aney Marg bungalow and shift to the incomplete ministerial bungalow. He does not have any fascination towards the CM's bungalow as claimed by people like Nitish Kumar. I would also say that now Nitish Kumar should take over this house as he was very excited to shift," said Nitish Mishra.
Manjhi today visited his ministerial bungalow along with Mishra.
In the past, there were lots of hue and cry over the bungalow, including the recent drama in which Manjhi had alleged deputation of policemen to guard the mango and litchi by Nitish Kumar so that no one could pluck it.
