Why Nitish Kumar can't get rid of Manjhi so easily

The ruling Janata Dal (United) is facing troubled times in Bihar these days thanks to its very own Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.

The party had reposed its faith in Manjhi after Nitish Kumar had stepped down, taking moral responsibility for its crushing defeat in the Parliamentary elections in May this year. Nitish himself had picked Manjhi as his successor after being authorised by the JD(U) legislature party. His decision was hailed in the political circles as a "masterstroke" for more reasons than one.

Firstly, Manjhi was a seasoned Mahadalit leader who had a long experience of working as a minister in successive state governments. Secondly, he was a controversy-free leader with a relatively taint-free track record. Besides, his elevation as the chief minister kept the vaulting ambitions of many powerful ministers in the Nitish cabinet in check. Above all, the 69-year-old was expected to keep a low profile and carry forward Nitish’s agenda quietly till the State Assembly polls next year.

But less than two months after taking over the reins, Manjhi has had an image makeover. The new CM chose to speak his mind out soon after taking over without bothering about the consequences. In one of his controversial assertions, he even admitted corruption could not be “stamped out during Nitish’s regime” despite the best of efforts of his predecessor. It was then hardly surprising that the reports of his differences with Nitish surfaced soon thereafter.

In fact, Manjhi’s seemingly off-the-cuff remarks were diametrically opposite to Nitish’s measured manner of speaking in public. While Nitish was known for choosing all his words carefully at public platforms, Manjhi believed wearing his heart on his sleeve. His plain-speak caused a sense of unease within the party. Many JD(U) legislators have risen in revolt against the CM claiming his remarks have caused damage to the party’s prospects. Some of them have even demanded his immediate removal.

But the party think-tank is caught in a big dilemma over the issue. It apparently knows that the ouster of Manjhi will not be a politically expedient move. For, this will not only create a divide within the party but will give a chance to the BJP to step up its attack.

Coming back to Manjhi, the Bihar CM hails from the Mahadalit community which has about 15 per cent population in Bihar. During his career, Nitish had gone out of his way to win over Mahadalits with of welfare packages. The appointment of Manjhi was in fact acknowledged as Nitish’s bid to empower one of the most underprivileged sections of society.

Removal of Manjhi at this juncture may, therefore, be disadvantageous to the party ahead of the Assembly elections. This will also prompt BJP to dub the JD(U) as “anti-Dalit.” Moreover, a section of party leaders also believes that Manjhi is doing a good job in polarising the support of the Mahadalits.

This point aside, it will also be difficult for the JD(U) to pick up a suitable successor to Manjhi if it chooses to replace him. With Nitish unlikely to take charge again, an unceremonious ouster of Manjhi could fuel a succession struggle among senior ministers such as Narendra Singh, Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Ramai Ram. This will lead to acute infighting something the party cannot afford now.

The JD(U), therefore, hopes Manjhi will restrain himself from giving unnecessary statements. Sources say senior leaders have spoken to him about it. But Manjhi has shown no urgency yet to curb his instincts to speak up on the spur of the moment.

In the past five months, he has caught the attention primarily because of his candid remarks. Knowing that he has a brief tenure, Manjhi probably wants to make the most of his opportunity in his own way, whether his party bosses like him for it or not.