Bihar CM raises 'special status' demand with Modi

The new Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has raised the issue of special category status for Bihar, the pet demand of his predecessor Nitish Kumar, with Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi.

Manjhi raised the issue of special category status for Bihar when Modi had telephoned him after he was sworn in as the chief minister succeeding Nitish Kumar. The new CM was addressing a section of media during an interaction late on Saturday evening.

"I had raised the demand for special status to Bihar when Narendra Modi had called to congratulate me after my swearing in as the chief minister. The grant of special category to our state will go a long way in sending a good message among the poor," said Manjhi.
Carrying forward the agenda of his predecessor, Manjhi said if it was not fulfilled, a long agitation will be launched in the state.

Special category status had been prominently raised by Nitish Kumar. The issue also topped the agenda of JD(U) during the general elections.

Kumar had organised two mega-rallies at Patna and New Delhi in support of special category status for Bihar. He had given the call for a one-day 'Bihar bandh' when the UPA government had announced the special category status and special package for Seemandhra in the wake of the division of the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Narendra Modi, while campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls, had announced that if he came to power, he would provide 'special status', 'special package' and 'special attention' to Bihar and other northeastern states for their better development.

Manjhi also said he has been invited to the swearing-in ceremony of Modi as the Prime Minister on May 26 at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.

"I have got the invite sent by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for Modi's swearing-in function. I will take a decision soon," Manjhi told reporters.

Asked about the chance of JD(U) and RJD coming together in his government, speculation about which was triggered when Lalu Prasad extended support to Manjhi during the trust vote, the Bihar CM dismissed any such possibility.

"There will be no alliance with the RJD. We did not ask them to support us, but they did it on their own to keep the communal forces at bay," added Manjhi.

Asked about the BJP's allegation that he will be 'remote controlled' by the previous chief minister Nitish Kumar in day-to-day functioning, Manjhi said this showed the "Manuwadi mentality" and "mean mindset" of the saffron party for those who do good work.

"It is the BJP which functions from the remote control of RSS at Nagpur. Can they say anything against RSS or its chief Mohan Bhagwat?" retorted Manjhi.

Talking about his agenda for the state, the Bihar chief minister said he sees only 10-12 months with him as the effective time period to complete the developmental agenda initiated by the Nitish Kumar government before the next assembly elections are declared.

He stressed the need for further tightening of law and order situation in the wake of some recent incidents of crime.

"We need to implement the policies that are already in place. We will implement the development roadmap of Nitish Kumar. We will consider any additional requirement if they arise. The law and order situation has deteriorated a bit and we will improve it. We will also crackdown on the middlemen active in government-related works," added Manjhi.

Talking about the power situation in the state, Manjhi said electricity is the priority area of the state government. Bihar's power production currently stands at 2,400 MW here, which will be increased to 4,500 to 5,000 MW by 2015.

Manjhi, who himself hails from a landless 'mahadalit' caste, stressed the importance of land reforms and said steps will be taken to resolve land disputes.

He added that cases related to atrocities on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes would be disposed speedily.

Source: TOI

Jitan Manjhi to be new Bihar CM

Putting an end to the political crisis in Bihar, Nitish Kumar on Monday announced name of his close aide Jitan Ram Manjhi as the next chief minister of the state.

Addressing reporters here, Kumar said, “He (Jeetan Manjhi) is a very experienced leader who has contributed a lot to party.”

Reports claim that the Dalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi along with Kumar went at the Governor's residence today before making this big announcement.

Manjhi currently hold the SC/ST, OBS, EBC Welfare Ministry. He is a Mahadalit from the Musahar community who occupy the lowest strata of the society in the state.

By appointing Manjhi, the former Bihar CM has sent a strong signal that he is trying to uplift the Mahadalits, a category that he has been actively wooing in the last few years.

Soon after Nitish Kumar's announcement, Manjhi, a senior JD(U) leader from Gaya constituency said, “I was surprised, I never thought I would be the CM ever.”

Kumar, who had resigned from his post on Saturday, remained firm on stepping down as the chief minister of Bihar even as the entire team of JD(U) leaders firmly backed him as their party chief.

However, the ex-Bihar CM today said that he would take on the responsibility again if he wins the mandate in the 2015 state Assembly polls.

"If people give me mandate in 2015 I am ready to take up responsibility again," Kumar told his supporters gathered outside after the crucial JD(U)LP meeting at his official residence.

Meanwhile, Bihar BJP leaders and their ally Ram Vilas Paswan today dismissed Nitish Kumar's resignation as a "scripted drama" enacted to save his leadership in JD(U) amidst a growing clamour against him within the party.

Earlier, addressing a press conference in the capital city today, Kumar, who was accompanied by state JD(U) president Basistha Narayan Singh and leader Rajiv Ranjan Lallan, said his decision to quit was not a sentimental one but a 'hard political decision' and urged his supporters to brace for a 'big fight' in Assembly polls scheduled next year.

"My responsibility has rather increased to guide government as well strengthen party in the state," he said.

Kumar said though there was no shortage of numbers for him, he decided to quit owning moral responsibility for the defeat of the party in the parliamentary polls in the state.

JD(U) managed to hold on to merely two seats this time from a high of 20 in 2009. BJP gained from the separation with it and won 22 seats on its own and helped new allies LJP win 6 and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) 3.

Attacking BJP for charging him with indulging in horse trading to protect his government, Kumar mocked at its senior leader Sushil Kumar Modi for claiming that 50 JD(U) MLAs were in touch with it.

"Even after resigning I did not dissolve the assembly to give scope for forming a new government ... I have given BJP 48 hours to form a new government with the help of 50 JD(U) MLAs ... Unki pol khul gayi (their claim has been laid bare)," he said sarcastically.

Kumar said JD(U) enjoyed comfortable majority in the assembly as besides its own strength of 117 MLAs including the speaker, it enjoyed support of 4 Congress MLAs, 1 CPI and 3 Independents.

Upping the ante against its one time alliance partner JD(U), the Bharatiya Janata Party had yesterday asked the Bihar Governor to dissolve the state Assembly.

“We met the Governor and said a minority government has been running in Bihar for the last 11 months,” BJP leader Sushil Modi.

After meeting with the state governor DY Patil, slamming JD(U), BJP leaders said the unstable state government is hampering development work in Bihar.

He added, “Bihar is politically unstable right now, we spoke to the Governor about the horsetrading going on, which isn't good for Bihar.”

“They (JDU) are plotting so that elections aren't held in Bihar but they will be held in 6 months,” LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan said.

After registering a landslide victory in alliance with BJP, LJP had said that Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government may fall soon and a mid-term elections in the state by October-November this year.

New political equation may emerge in Bihar

After resignation of chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday, a new political equation may emerge in Bihar which in the words of JD(U) chief Sarad Yadav may spring surprise on the national level.

As per the indication, the two old friends-turned-foes Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad who have been drubbed in the just concluded general elections and who had parted ways in early nineties, may join hands for the formation of a 'secular' government.

At 4pm on Sunday (today) the JD(U) legislators are meeting at CM residence to elect a new leader. But as sources said they will express their solidarity with Nitish and request him to withdraw his resignation. Though there seems little scope of Nitish succumbing to their pressure. Meanwhile, he has applied to the housing department to allot him a different house as he readies to vacate official CM residence — 1' Ane Marg. The department has allotted him a new house.

The RJD leaders are tight-lipped over the developments and the Lalu's party has also called a meeting of its legislature party on Monday. Some JD(U) leaders in Delhi reportedly met Congress leaders to discuss the issue and Congress is believed to have assured to support JD(U) government.

Political circles believe that RJD may extend support to JD(U) government whether it is headed by Nitish or someone else. The party may also join the new government. The names doing round as replacement of Nitish include Bijendra Yadav, Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Narendra Singh, all ministers.

There is also speculation that Nitish may take over national president of JD(U) in view of the age and health of present chief Sharad Yadav.

Source: TOI

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Resigns a Day After Poll Defeat

Nitish Kumar has resigned as Bihar chief minister a day after his party the Janata Dal United was routed in the general election. He has recommended the dissolution of the state Assembly.

The JD(U) has won just two of Bihar's 40 Lok Sabha seats. His former partner the BJP has won 31 along with its allies in the polls that saw Mr Kumar's arch political rival Narendra Modi winning a decisive mandate to become Prime Minister.

Yesterday, Mr Kumar, 63, said, "I respect the mandate of the people."

His resignation may precipitate snap polls in the state that is due for assembly elections only in November next year.

After the split with the BJP and several senior members of his party leaving the JD(U) before the election, Nitish Kumar was running a minority government in the state. There was speculation the dissent within his party will grow, with support from the opposition.

Yesterday, six ministers who had been critical of his decision to part ways with the BJP last year did not attend a cabinet meeting that Mr Kumar had called.

In the 243-seat Assembly, the JD(U) has 115 members and has been propped up by the controversial support of two LJP members, five from Lalu Prasad's RJD and two Independents.
As news of the drubbing for Mr Kumar's party came in on Friday, BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, his former deputy, said, "Nitish Kumar should take moral responsibility and resign. He has lost the confidence of the people."

Mr Kumar's defeat is seen by many as the fallout of his decision to snap ties with 17-year-old ally BJP last year over Mr Modi's elevation.

The Bihar chief minister is among those who faults the BJP leader for not doing enough to stop the 2002 riots on his watch in Gujarat, in which more than 1000 people were killed, most of them Muslims.

A Supreme Court inquiry has found no evidence to prosecute Mr Modi.

"The people of Bihar have rejected his campaign against Modi," said BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli.

In 2009, Nitish Kumar's party, in alliance with the BJP, had won 20 seats. Then junior partner BJP had won 12 that year.

Source: NDTV

Will MY factor work for Lalu Prasad in Bihar?

After an emphatic win by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the 2010 assembly election and more recently his conviction in fodder scam,Lalu Prasad was completely written off in Bihar politics. He got a new lease of life after NDA’s disintegration in the state and his alliance with the Congress, but the scope for his re-emergence was still considered limited.
During the initial two phases of polls in Bihar, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) under Lalu Prasad in the state was expected to put up a good fight, but the advantage was given to Narendra Modi-led NDA. However, in the last two weeks, a section of the media has gone overboard to predict a sweep for UPA in Bihar due to the consolidation of Muslim-Yadav (MY) votes and also a higher voter turnout.
As far as the voter turnout is concerned, it is not just limited to Bihar. Rather, this election is experiencing a huge and unprecedented bump of about 10% votes across the nation. Moreover, a deeper analysis suggests it is not just minorities, but also the majority population that has given an equal, if not extra, push to high polling. This publication carried an exclusive piece on this subject in its 1 May edition.

Let us analyse the potential of the MY factor in influencing the outcome of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls in Bihar. Sixteen percent Muslims and 14% Yadavs together account for about 30% of Bihar’s electorate. If we look at the spread of MY across its 40 parliamentary constituencies, there are five PCs with more than 40% and eight PCs with 30-40% combined MY electorate. Thus, UPA has the potential to present a formidable challenge in these 13 PCs, but still can’t win all 13 because Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has failed to win several of these seats in the recent past despite polarizing MY. It is true MY consolidation will make UPA appear formidable, but just MY is not enough to win many seats unless there is support from other sections of voters.

Bihar’s electoral history since 1990 suggests Lalu Prasad could win 1990, 1995 and 2000 Assembly elections because, besides MY support, he had a huge fan following among 23% most backwards classes (MBCs) and 10% non-Paswan SCs (Mahadalits) due to his social justice plank. But NDA with the combined strength of Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Sawarn, Nitish Kumar’s other backward class (OBC) and Ram Vilas Paswan’s votes presented a tough challenge to Lalu Prasad and won the most seats in undivided Bihar in 1998 Lok Sabha elections. But once Paswan and the Congress joined hands with the RJD in 2004, the balance of electoral power shifted to Lalu Prasad and the UPA swept Bihar in 2004. Once again when Paswan left the UPA, just MY could not save Lalu Prasad’s fortunes in both the assembly elections of 2005. Therefore, just 30% MY can’t give RJD the winning edge unless it manages at least 5-10% support from other social segments.

The results of the 2005 and 2010 Assembly and 2009 Lok Sabha elections suggest that the poor sections of Bihar electorate mainly comprising of MBCs and Mahadalits have completely deserted the RJD. There is no empirical evidence to suggest that these social segments have any reason to go back to Lalu Prasad at least in this election. This is the same electorate which inspired Nitish Kumar to part ways with the BJP; therefore, only Nitish Kumar, and not Lalu Prasad, has the potential to challenge BJP’s growth among OBC and Dalits in Bihar.

It will be worthwhile to discuss a few important social engineering initiatives of the BJP which are likely to dilute the MY impact. BJP is no longer considered as a party of upper castes in Bihar due to Modi’s projection as an OBC leader, which got a further boost due to the recent “neech jaati” controversy. An unprecedented number of tickets given to OBCs is also expected to give further impetus to BJP’s effort in wooing OBCs. Inclusion of Upendra Kushwaha and Ram Vilas Paswan into NDA has not only added an additional 5% Kushwaha and 5% Paswan votes in its kitty, but has also helped BJP shed its upper caste image. Today, NDA in Bihar is poised to secure about 40% votes with near 100% consolidation of 15% Sawarn, 7% Baniya, 5% Kushwaha, 5% Paswan and more than 50% support of non-Yadav OBC, MBC and Mahadalits.

Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) is likely to get completely marginalized due to the erosion of its core constituency (MBC, Mahadalit and Kurmies) and consolidation of Muslims with RJD. On the other hand, despite MY consolidation, UPA does not look like getting more than 32-33% votes. Those who are presuming polarization of Yadavs with the UPA should also be mindful of the fact that a section of young aspiring Yadavs who want development and employment may get attracted to BJP. Such a trend is more likely in communally sensitive areas where counter-polarization of majority voters has been reported.
Therefore, it would not be inappropriate to conclude that MY consolidation is expected to resurrect Lalu Prasad in Bihar politics as the main challenger of a resurgent BJP, but UPA may still not be able to contain Narendra Modi’s march in Bihar beyond a point.

Source: LM

Man shoots at wife in Bihar over voting

A man shot and injured his wife Wednesday for not voting for his favourite candidate in Bihar's Ujiarpur constituency, police said.

Vinod Paswan, a resident of Mohiuddinnagar village in Samastipur district, was angry over the issue and shot and seriously injured his wife, they said.

"The woman was admitted to a hospital for treatment. But doctors referred to the Patna Medical College and Hospital as her condition deteriorated," a police officer said in Samastipur.

Police said they have registered a case against Paswan, who is absconding.

Ujiarpur is among seven Lok Sabha seats in Bihar that went to the polls Wednesday.

Source: IT

Aamir Khan disappoints Bihar's Mountain Man's family

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has disappointed the poverty-stricken family of Bihar's 'Mountain Man' Dasrath Manjhi, as neither did he provide financial help to them nor send his team to inquire about their requirements.

Dashrath Manjhi is known for single-handedly cutting through a hill to make a road.

His son Bhagirath is sad and pained after he failed to save his wife Basanti Devi, who died due to lack of medical care last month.

"If hero (Aamir) could have provided financial help as he promised us, my wife may not have died. She died because of our abject poverty. Aamir has proved himself like leaders or officials, who promised help that never reached us," Bhagirath told IANS over the phone of a local NGO member.

Bhagirath said that he managed to perform 'shradh' (a ritual performed after a death) Friday thanks to financial help provided by Bodh Gaya-based People First Educational Charitable Trust.

"It was they (Trust) who spent money to perform my wife's shradh. I have no money to do that," he said.

Aamir Khan, who visited their village for his TV show "Satyamev Jayate" in February, promised to provide financial help to Dashrath's daughter-in-law Basanti and son Bhagirath.

In early March after Aamir's visit hit the headlines, Shafi Ahmad, state co-ordinator of Aamir's production house, said a team would soon visit the Dasrathnagar Dalit tola near Gahlaur in Gaya district, around 100 km from here, on behalf of the actor-filmmaker as he had requested that their requirements be taken care of.

Aamir, during his visit, also assured Bhagirath and Basanti of help. Nearly two months after Aamir promised to help Basanti she died due to lack of proper medical treatment.

Both of them had told Khan that they have been left in the lurch, ignored by politicians and officials despite repeated assurances of help.

Bhagirath said that Basanti's death sent shock waves through the village as it happened despite assurances of help from Aamir.

However, the Trust that helped Bhagirath conduct Basanti's shradh, has opened the Dasrath Manjhi non-formal school in Gahlaur. The school is being run by Basanti's daughter-in-law Laksminiya Devi.

Both Bhagirath and Basanti used to work in the village primary school as cooks for preparing the mid-day meal for children. Both of them were paid Rs.1,000 a month.

Working day and night, Dasrath Manjhi had single-handedly carved out a 360 feet long, 30 feet high and 30 feet wide passage through a hill near Gahlaur with a hammer and chisel. He died in 2007 after battling cancer.

The hill was between Attari and Wazirgunj blocks in Gaya district. Manjhi began his uphill task when his wife was injured and he had to take a detour around the mountains to reach the nearest hospital.

Source: DNA

Dhoni’s litti chokha party bowls over foreign teammates

Foreign team members of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were bowled over by litti chokha, a popular dish in Bihar,Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, served at a birthday party thrown by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The team was celebrating the birthday of South African player Faf du Plessis’ wife at Dhoni’s Ranchi residence, Shaurya, on Thursday. Only the CSK team members and officials were invited.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) had returned home after its UAE leg and Dhoni served up the traditional fare in style a day before his team beat the Kolkata Knight Riders in his hometown.

The litti (wheat balls stuffed with powdered gram or lentils and spices) and chokha (roasted and mashed potatoes or brinjals with tomatoes or all together) combination proved a smash hit with the guests.

Ram Kishore, one of the cooks, said, “Sabhi videshi khiladi litti chokha bahut pasand kar rahe the. Dhoni sir sabhi ko litti chokha ke bare main bata rahe the.” (Litti Chokha was the favourite dish of all the foreign players at the party. Dhoni was explaining to them its ingredients and preparation.)

CSK coach, New Zelander Stephen Fleming, apparently showed great interest in the dish and engaged Dhoni in a conversation over details of how it was made.

Though the menu was elaborate, Du Plessis, Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Smith, John Hastings favoured the litti chokha. Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, known for his variations, too went for the traditional dish.

Source: HT

40 students fall ill after eating midday meal in Bihar

At least 40 children fell ill on Friday after having their midday meal at a government school in Bihar's Rohtas district, officials said. The students are now out of danger.

The children complained of uneasiness after the meals at Katar Middle School, and were admitted at a hospital, a district official said.

"All the children are now safe," he said. "All of them, except two, were discharged after preliminary treatment at the hospital," he added.

Samples of the meal have been collected by police for forensic examination.

According to officials, some children said a lizard was found in the midday meal served to them, which claim "may be true or a rumour". However, the doctors who examined the children did not find any sign of poison in their bodies.

Last month, a lizard was found in the midday meal served in Sheohar district and a dead rat was found in the midday meal served to students of a primary school in Patna.

Last July, 23 children lost their lives after they consumed the mid-day meal cooked in contaminated oil at the government primary school in Dharmasati Gandawan village of Saran district.

The midday meal scheme is being run in 72,000 schools across Bihar to serve day meals to 16 million students so that they continue schooling.

Source: TOI