Former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi says he is still with JDU but hints at post-poll alliance with any party

Unsure of his political future but keen to exploit the sympathy he gained as a Dalit leader, former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi is likely to use his support base to drive a hard bargain with the current Janata Dal United leadership while keeping all his options open.

Even as Manjhi claimed on Thursday that he was still a JDU member despite the party expelling him, he targeted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saying there was no democracy in the party under him (Kumar). Maintaining that JDU National President Sharad Yadav was his leader, Manjhi said that a merger of former Janata pariwar constituents was a must and he could play a role in ensuring it.

He also blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party's indecision on the confidence motion and Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal support to Nitish Kumar for the fall of his government.

While claiming that his Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) will not join hands with any other political outfit ahead of Bihar Assembly elections later in 2015 but some leaders close to Manjhi are in touch with Sharad Yadav and are looking for a greater say in the JDU. But he added that he was ready for a post-poll alliance with any party while also making a contradictory statement that HAM was a part of the JDU.

Realising that Nitish Kumar faces a very tough election against the confident BJP, the JDU leadership is also keen to have Manjhi on its side so as to not split the crucial Mahadalit vote bank which will play a very crucial role in the polls.

Manjhi is organising a rally at Patna's Gandhi Maidan on April 20 and its success or failure will play an important role in deciding if he is ready to chart an independent course.

While the JDU and RJD are likely to contest elections along with the Congress, BJP will go with its allies Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party. In such a scenario Manjhi could play a very crucial role by cutting into the JDU vote bank and helping the BJP-led NDA.

Nitish Kumar, Sharad Yadav and Lalu Prasad are wary of such a scenario and keen to ensure that Manjhi does not pose a threat during elections.