Dalit votes have became the battle ground for the upcoming legislative elections in Bihar.
Lok janshakti party (LJP) recently came up with caustic tag line which are advertised “Woh ladh rahe hai hum par Raj karne ke liye aur hum ladh rahe hain Bihar par naaz karne ke liye”. The party is headed by Chirag Paswan which is presently a member of NDA. Chirag Paswan is also giving a loud cry “Aao banaye Naya Bihar, yuva Bihar; chalo chale yuva Bihari ke saath”. Chirag Paswan had been making a series of attacks on Nitish government over the issues like returning of migrant labourers, handling of covid crisis and devastating flood. While LJP chief is a constant attacker of Nitesh, Jetan Ram Manjhi, chief of Hindustan Avam Morcha(HAM) has rejoined hands with NDA and now defends Nitesh.
Bihar legislative assembly elections will be held in October – November 2020 to elect 243 members of Bihar legislative assembly. There are 22 schedule caste communities in Bihar that constitutes 17% of state total population. CM Nitish Kumar was speaking as chairman of the state level vigilance and monitoring committee meeting under the dalit janjatis (prevention of atrocities) act 1995 on Friday. As the Bihar assembly elections are approaching, Nitish government made an announcement that if a dalit or tribal person (SC/ST) is killed government job will be given to his/her heir. He also played a master stroke by announcing at the meeting that the pending cases of atrocities against the Dalit janjatis should be settled by September 20. He directed secretary ministry of dalits and tribes, Prem Kumar Meena, to proceed with the disposal of such cases. Manjhi joining hands with NDA has left all other political parties of Bihar at mishap. Manjhi decision to join with Nitish Kumar is been seen as a tactical move to isolate LJP. It will be interesting to see in future that will LJP will remain a part of NDA and will compromise over the seats or will it fight independently? Or may form alliance with RJD?
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