Patna, Dec 21 (NationPress) The founder of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Union Minister, Jitan Ram Manjhi, made a public appeal on Sunday for his party to receive one Rajya Sabha seat, issuing a stern ultimatum to the BJP that HAM may sever ties if their request is declined.

During an event in Bihar’s Gaya, Manjhi addressed his son and current HAM national president, Santosh Kumar Suman, motivating him to gear up for a political battle.

“Stay strong, Santosh. Your grandfather was a farmer, and now I am a Union Minister. Prepare to take a stand. The BJP has not been truthful. Be ready to chant Inquilab Zindabad,” the HAM leader stated from the podium.

Manjhi accused the BJP of failing to fulfill their promise of a Rajya Sabha seat during the Lok Sabha elections.

As the Rajya Sabha elections approach, he cautioned that if his party is overlooked once again, HAM will have to reconsider its coalition.

“If we do not secure the Rajya Sabha seat this time, I am willing to resign from my ministerial role and pursue a different course,” he asserted.

Pointing fingers at the BJP for their betrayal, Manjhi expressed that HAM had been deceived in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections and has been consistently undervalued.

“You have made a mistake by underestimating us. If that mistake occurs again, we are ready to stand independently,” he emphasized.

In his advice to Santosh Kumar Suman regarding future tactics, Manjhi indicated that the party should be prepared to contest at least 100 seats if necessary.

“What if the BJP offers merely five seats? You must be ready to aim for 100 seats. Even if we secure just 6 percent of the votes or 10-15 seats, the party will gain visibility,” he remarked, highlighting the importance of organizational cohesion.

Manjhi also discussed the issue of political funding, alleging that MPs and MLAs receive commissions from development funds and proposing that such resources should be utilized to bolster the party’s structure.

“Every MP and MLA takes a cut. Last year, I stated that we received Rs 5 crore in MP funds. If we obtain a 10 percent commission from development funds, it could amount to a significant sum. Utilize these funds to operate the party,” he stated.

He affirmed that HAM has a robust voter base spanning regions from Purnea to Bettiah and claimed support from various castes, especially the Musahar community and associated social groups.

“I possess around five percent of the vote share from my caste, and I have united other communities too,” Manjhi reiterated his commitment to social unity.

In addition, the HAM leader defended Chief Minister Nitish Kumar regarding the recent hijab controversy, claiming it was being politicized unnecessarily.

He asserted that the Chief Minister’s actions were misrepresented and his intentions were not ill-willed.

“If Nitish Kumar were a 20-year-old, the situation would be different. At 74, his intention was solely to convey that when a girl becomes a doctor and works in public, there’s no need for her to cover her face,” Manjhi stated, alleging that certain factions were trying to incite social discord over a trivial matter.

He added it was heartening that the woman involved and her family had called for peace and that the controversy was being exaggerated for political gain.