In a recent session of the Bihar Assembly, political tensions escalated as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s sharp criticism of former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi’s questioning of the state’s caste survey led to a heated exchange.
Incident Details
During the discussion on the quota amendment Bill, aimed at increasing reservations for OBCs, EBCs, SCs, and STs to 65% from 50%, Nitish Kumar intervened, describing Manjhi’s actions as “murkhta” (stupidity). The comment was a reference to Nitish’s decision to appoint Manjhi as CM in 2014 after the JD(U) faced a setback in the Lok Sabha elections.
Political Fallout
The controversial remark has provided political ammunition to Jitan Ram Manjhi and the BJP, creating a potential dent in Nitish Kumar’s Mahadalit vote bank.
JD(U)’s Defensive Maneuver
Initially adopting a strategy of ignoring Manjhi’s criticisms, the JD(U) has now changed course. The party has fielded Dalit ministers Ashok Choudhary and Ratnesh Sada to counter the narrative and defend Nitish Kumar.
The aftermath of Nitish Kumar’s ‘murkhta’ remark has set the stage for heightened political drama in Bihar, with both the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and the BJP capitalizing on the opportunity to challenge Nitish’s influence, especially within the Mahadalit community. The JD(U)’s tactical shift in deploying Dalit ministers reflects the party’s efforts to mitigate the impact of this controversy.
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