Jitan Ram Manjhi takes U-turn on merger of LJP, RLSP and HAM(S)

Patna: Former Bihar Chief Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) president Jitan Ram Manjhi on Sunday took a U-turn on the issue of merger saying it was never discussed.

"There wasn't any discussion on merger. Politics is a game of possibilities. I just told you (media) the truth what I felt and now you are putting words in my mouth," Manjhi told reporters here.

Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development and RLSP president Upendra Kushwaha said there is no murmur within the NDA camp and denied any possibility of merger of three parties - LJP, RLSP and HAM(S).

Kushwaha, however, said, "BJP leadership should take note of concerns raised by Manjhi."

On April 1 Manjhi had charged BJP of not taking its three alliance partners into confidence and said that the partners of the saffron party may merge together to chart out their own political agenda in Bihar and outside because of its attitude.

"We are very much part of NDA but there is no proper coordination among alliance partners (three parties LJP, RLSP & HAM(S)). If BJP does not give due attention to us, then we may think of coming under one banner and one flag. We reckon BJP is as our big brother but they are not giving us attention that we deserve. This is childish," Manjhi had said.

It may be noted that leaders of NDA's three constituents- LJP leader and union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, RLSP leader and Union minister Upendra Kushwaha and HAM(S) president Jitan Ram Manjhi- met at the farmhouse of HAM(S) state president Brishen Patel in Vaishali on March 28 where they discussed at length the possible merger or alliance of the three parties to consolidate their position among the dalits and backward community in the state.