Bihar polls: Jitan Ram Manjhi sets deadline for Grand Alliance committee

HAM (S) spokesperson Danish Rizwan told The Indian Express: “We have long been asking RJD to set up a coordination committee of Grand Alliance partners to discuss joint press conferences, meetings and number of seats, but RJD is not paying heed. We have now set deadline of March 31 for the RJD to form the coordination committee.”

Asked about Manjhi’s meeting with the CM, Rizwan said the two leaders discussed the opening of a Dalit hostel and the revamp of a block in Manjhi’s village. He dismissed reports of HAM (S) merging with the ruling JD (U)-led NDA alliance.

RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tewari told The Indian Express: “Manjhi’s demand for a coordination committee is not justified. We have valued him, gave him three seats to contest in Lok Sabha, made his son an MLC. He must not try to exert pressure on us. We are the largest party in the alliance and other constituents must respect us.”