Bihar polls: Jitan Ram Manjhi takes poetic dig at BJP over seat-sharing; invokes Dinkar's 'Rashmirathi'

NEW DELHI: “Ho nyaay agar to aadha do, yadi usme bhi koi baadha ho, to de do kewal 15 gram…” This verse from Bihar’s “rashtrakavi” Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s " Rashmirathi ", where Lord Krishna sought a peaceful compromise in the Mahabharata courts, has found a new echo in recent Bihar politics.

“हो न्याय अगर तो आधा दो,
यदि उसमें भी कोई बाधा हो,
तो दे दो केवल 15 ग्राम,
रखो अपनी धरती तमाम,
HAM वही ख़ुशी से खाएंगें,
परिजन पे असी ना उठाएँगे”

— Jitan Ram Manjhi (@jitanrmanjhi) October 8, 2025

Former chief minister and HAM(S) supremo Jitan Ram Manjhi invoked Dinkar’s poetry in a cryptic post on X, seemingly expressing his disappointment with NDA seat-sharing talks, possibly portraying the BJP as a " Duryodhana" unwilling to yield even a small concession, with the saffron party being the leading force in the NDA.



Bihar LoP and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Union minister Manjhi said, "Jitan Ram Manjhi being upset or angry has nothing to do with us. The people of Bihar are deeply unhappy with the current government. This time, they want change -- a new government and a new Bihar. Everyone will unite to remove the current administration and work towards forming a fresh government."

VIDEO | Patna: Bihar LoP and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) on Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, said, "Jitan Ram Manjhi being upset or angry has nothing to do with us. The people of Bihar are extremely unhappy and angry with the current government. This time, the… pic.twitter.com/yMNGGhII5i

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 8, 2025

As Bihar election schedule now announced, the political atmosphere in the state has scaled-up. Parties are negotiating, and jostling for representation in a tightly contested electoral battle.

With Nitish Kumar ’s JD(U) and the BJP leading the pack, leaders like LJP (RV)'s Chirag Paswan and HAM (S)'s Jitan Ram Manjhi are maneuvering to secure their relevance in Bihar. Both, representing subaltern politics over the years, also hold ministerial positions in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet.

Seat-sharing discussions between the BJP and JD(U) are reportedly nearing finalisation, with Chirag Paswan’s faction ensuring local aspirations are accounted for.

Meanwhile, the opposition INDIA bloc is preparing for a full-scale fight, and a third front is also looking confident in the form of Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj, aiming to contest across the length and breadth of Bihar.