Manjhi quits NDA, will join grand alliance tomorrow

Patna: Former Bihar Chief Minister and president of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) Jeetan Ram Manjhi today announced that he had snapped his ties with NDA and would join grand alliance.Mr Manjhi, after a meeting with former Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejaswai Prasad Yadav who called on him at his residence, told media persons that he was no more in NDA and would make formal announcement to this effect at 1000 hours tomorrow."

I will divulge in details the reasons behind my decision to quit NDA tomorrow at press conference scheduled at 1000 hours," Mr Manjhi said adding that he had discussed the issue of joining grand alliance in meeting with Mr Yadav and only formal announcement was to be made.Mr Yadav, who was also present on the occasion, told media persons that Mr Manjhi had always worked for protecting the interest of most oppressed section of the society. 

Mr Manjhi had been demanding since long for providing five decimals of land to most oppressed but it was ignored, he said adding that views of Mr Manjhi were also not accommodated in budget presented by Nitish Kumar government yesterday.RJD leader said that Mr Manjhi was like his guardian and he would be given full respect in grand alliance. Mr Manjhi had also been demanding for special status to Bihar but it was also not given due attention by Narendra Modi government, he added.

Former Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav and RJD MLA Bhola Yadav had also called on Mr Manjhi along with Mr Tejaswi Prasad Yadav at his residence this morning.Meanwhile, state Tourism Minister and senior BJP leader Pramod Kumar Singh said that NDA was like a sea and decision of Mr Manjhi to quit would not have any effect on it. (UNI)