Political Buzz in Bihar: HAM MLAs Spotted with Tejashwi Yadav During Rajya Sabha Voting
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Patna, March 16 (NationPress) During the voting process for five Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar, political circles were stirred on Monday as two relatives of Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi were spotted leaving the office of the Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, within the state Assembly.
The occurrence attracted significant attention given that the Rajya Sabha elections were in progress in the legislative assembly.
Deepa Manjhi, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) MLA representing Imamganj and Jitan Ram Manjhi's daughter-in-law, was joined by her mother, Jyoti Manjhi, as they emerged from Tejashwi Yadav's office after a brief discussion.
Following their departure, Akhtarul Iman, the President of the State All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), and A.D. Singh from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) were also observed exiting the chamber.
This meeting quickly ignited speculation within political circles, especially among members of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Nevertheless, both Deepa and Jyoti Manjhi clarified that their visit to Tejashwi Yadav's office was accidental and held no political weight.
Sources indicated that the two leaders arrived at the state Assembly prior to the voting commencement and briefly entered the chamber for a quick exchange of pleasantries before leaving.
Despite the clarifications, the incident sparked discussions among political analysts, with some viewing it as a mere courtesy visit while others speculated about potential political implications.
Members of Manjhi's party, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), also characterized the incident as an unintended visit.
Jitan Ram Manjhi’s family holds numerous elected positions within Bihar’s political framework.
Manjhi himself secured victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Gaya and presently acts as the Union Minister for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.
His son, Santosh Kumar Suman, serves as a member of the Bihar Legislative Council and is also a Minister in the current state government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Meanwhile, Deepa Manjhi represents Imamganj, while Jyoti Manjhi serves the Barachatti Assembly constituency in Bihar.
Voting is currently underway for 37 Rajya Sabha seats across ten states nationwide.
In Bihar, elections are being conducted for five seats, with a polling station established within the Bihar Assembly.