Despite all claims of unity, the two NDA allies in the state, LJP (Ram Vilas) and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), are not missing any opportunity to engage in squabbles.
Patna: Infighting among the constituent parties of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) in Bihar politics is not new, but as the assembly elections draw closer after the Lok Sabha elections, this dispute seems to be intensifying. This time, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) president and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and LJP (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan have come under fire.
Manjhi's attack on 'lack of experience'
Hindustani Awam Morcha founder Jitan Ram Manjhi recently stated about Chirag Paswan that he had a 'lack of experience' and would take time to understand the intricacies of Bihar politics. Manjhi said that in a politically complex state like Bihar, popularity alone would not suffice; experience is also necessary.
Sharp retort from LJP (R) MP
Retaliating against Manjhi's statement, Chirag Paswan's brother-in-law and MP from Samastipur, Arun Bharti, launched a scathing attack on Wednesday. In a social media post, without naming Manjhi, he said that Chirag Paswan indeed does not have the experience of resigning before proving a majority in the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
Arun Bharti here reminded of the 2015 incident involving Manjhi, when, despite claiming to prove a majority while he was the Chief Minister, he resigned before the floor test in the assembly. Bharti quipped that perhaps Manjhi was talking about the same 'experience' that Chirag does not have.
Strain in NDA, questions on the alliance
This exchange of statements between LJP (R) and Hindustani Awam Morcha within the NDA in Bihar is not the first time. LJP (R) has long been claiming to receive 'equal rights' in the NDA, while the HAM party also remains vocal about its regional influence. In such a situation, this strain between the two parties before the assembly elections could become a cause of concern for the BJP.
Chirag's silence, but clear indications
Although Chirag Paswan himself has not given any direct statement on this controversy at the moment, he had said in a party program held in Rajgir on June 29, "I will contest elections not from Bihar, but for Bihar." This statement of his was seen by LJP (R) workers as an announcement of an active role in the upcoming assembly elections. Party MP Arun Bharti also shared a video on Facebook, indicating that Chirag could contest elections from some assembly seat in the Shahabad region.
Arun Bharti wrote in his post that an internal survey of the party shows that the general public in the state is ready to accept Chirag Paswan's leadership. He said, "There is a demand at every level that Chirag Paswan should now fulfill his responsibility in the politics of Bihar."
Questions on NDA's unity
On one hand, the BJP wants to show the alliance united before the 2025 assembly elections, while on the other hand, this squabble among the constituent parties is raising a big question mark on the unity of the NDA. This war of words between Manjhi and Chirag has exposed the strategic challenges of the alliance. Experts believe that the social equations in Bihar are very complex, and if the NDA wants to return to power again in 2025, it will have to strengthen communication between parties like LJP (R) and Hindustani Awam Morcha. Otherwise, the opposition can take advantage of it.
