Jitan Ram Manjhi rebukes Rahul Gandhi’s fixed elections remark, saying the Bihar situation is not like before 2025.
Patna, June 7, 2025: A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections could be “fixed” like those in Maharashtra, veteran NDA ally and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi strongly countered the claim, questioning Gandhi’s basis for the remark.
“How did Rahul Gandhi come to know that Bihar elections will be fixed? Only those who lose talk like that,” Manjhi said while speaking to the media persons in Patna on Saturday.
Jitan Ram Manjhi defended law and order in Bihar:
Jitan Ram Manjhi also rejected Gandhi’s criticism of the law-and- order situation in the state, asserting that things are significantly better now.
“The situation in Bihar is not like before. This is not the era when criminals used to operate from the Chief Minister’s residence,” Manjhi said.
His comments come amid heightened political activity in the state as parties gear up for the Bihar Assembly polls scheduled for October-November 2025.
HAM gears up for polls, denies NDA rift:
Speaking about his party’s electoral strategy, Manjhi emphasized that Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) is preparing for 242 assembly seats, although final contestation will depend on NDA seat-sharing arrangements.
“We are preparing for elections on all the seats because we have to contest and help others contest too. We want NDA to win and strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our aim is to ensure the return of the double-engine government in Bihar,” he said.
Jitan Ram Manjhi dismissed any speculation of discord within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over seat sharing.
“There is no deadlock in NDA. Seat sharing will be finalized by July or August, and every party will get seats to contest,” he said.
His remarks come as BJP and its alliance partners JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas), and HAM begin groundwork to avoid the kind of fragmentation seen in previous elections, while the opposition ramps up its narrative on governance and transparency.
EOM.