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Key Points

Jitan Ram Manjhi has accepted just 6 seats for his Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, despite initially seeking 40. He remains steadfast in his support for the NDA and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing his community's historical resilience. Manjhi's pragmatic approach reflects his political adaptability and commitment to the larger alliance. The NDA's seat-sharing arrangement includes BJP and JD(U) contesting 101 seats each, with smaller parties like HAM getting limited representation.

Key Points: Manjhi Accepts 6 Seats, Vows NDA Loyalty in Bihar Polls

  • Manjhi accepts 6 seats after initially demanding 40
  • NDA seat-sharing finalizes allocation for Bihar Assembly elections
  • HAM remains committed to alliance despite reduced seats
  • Manjhi links acceptance to community resilience and PM Modi's support
2 min read

Bihar polls: Jitan Ram Manjhi disappointed over HAM getting 6 seats but vows to stand with NDA

HAM chief Jitan Ram Manjhi supports NDA despite limited seat allocation, emphasizing commitment to PM Modi's vision for Bihar

"We are used to living in deprived conditions. That is why we are satisfied with whatever we have. - Jitan Ram Manjhi"

Patna, Oct 13

Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi on Monday said he is satisfied with the NDA's seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, even though his party received far fewer seats than it had demanded.

Drawing a comparison to his experience during the Lok Sabha elections, Manjhi remarked that he is "used to being deprived of things."

The statement comes a day after the ruling NDA, which includes the HAM, announced its seat-sharing arrangement for the 243-member Bihar Assembly.

Under the agreement, HAM was allotted six seats, significantly fewer than what Manjhi had sought.

Initially, Manjhi had demanded 40 seats for the 2025 elections, but later scaled down his request to 15. However, the alliance eventually allocated only six seats to his party.

Speaking to IANS, Manjhi said, "In the parliamentary elections, we were told that we would get two Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat, but we got only one. Now, we had said a minimum of eight seats was needed for recognition as a registered party. But one cannot be sure that if they get eight seats, they will win all. Therefore, we requested at least 15 seats, but they allotted only six. Even so, we are satisfied."

Manjhi dismissed speculation that he might quit the NDA after being given fewer seats than expected and instead reaffirmed his loyalty to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, linking his patience to his community's resilience.

"We stand with PM Narendra Modi, who has given us significant respect and support for the development of Gaya, Bihar, and the country. We are ready to make any sacrifice for this. Secondly, I belong to a backward community; we are used to living in deprived conditions. That is why we are satisfied with whatever we have. That is why we are here today with the NDA," he said.

The NDA's seat-sharing arrangement announced on Sunday includes the BJP and JD(U) contesting 101 seats each. Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has been allotted 29 seats, while Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) will contest six seats each.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
I respect Manjhi ji's patience but honestly, this seems unfair. HAM represents important backward communities and deserves more seats. NDA should have given at least 10-12 seats to ensure proper representation. 🤔
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Sarah B
As someone following Bihar politics, this seat distribution makes sense. BJP and JD(U) are the major players, while smaller parties like HAM get what they can deliver. Practical politics over emotional demands.
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Arjun K
"Used to being deprived" - this statement is quite telling. While I appreciate his loyalty to PM Modi, I wish our leaders wouldn't normalize deprivation as something to be accepted. We should aim for better representation for all communities. 🇮🇳
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Meera T
At the end of the day, what matters is development for Bihar. If NDA can deliver on promises and smaller parties are willing to cooperate for larger goals, then this arrangement is fine. Jai Bihar! 🙏
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Vikram M
Chirag Paswan getting 29 seats while Manjhi gets only 6? This seems disproportionate. Both represent important social groups. Hope this doesn't create resentment within the alliance later.

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