The induction of the late 'Mountain Man' Dashrath Manjhi's son into Congress is seen as an attempt to consolidate Dalit votes ahead of state elections.
With Bihar gearing up for its upcoming assembly elections, political parties are intensifying their strategies to secure key vote banks. In a significant development, Bhagirath Manjhi, son of the legendary 'Mountain Man' Dashrath Manjhi, has joined the Congress party after leaving the Janata Dal (United). This move is seen as Congress’s attempt to attract votes from the Mahadalit community, particularly the Manjhi sub-caste, which holds a substantial presence in regions like Gaya, Jehanabad, and northern Bihar.
Bhagirath Manjhi officially joined Congress at the party headquarters in Delhi, following his recent public appearance alongside Rahul Gandhi at a constitutional rights conference in Patna. His inclusion is expected to bolster Congress’s outreach efforts, especially among Dalits and marginalized communities. However, political analysts remain skeptical about his actual influence in Bihar's electoral dynamics. Ajay Kumar, a political expert, notes that Bhagirath Manjhi lacks significant political clout even in his home constituency, making it uncertain whether his entry into Congress will yield electoral benefits.
The NDA, on the other hand, already has a strong representative from the Manjhi community in the form of Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who leads the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM). With Jitan Ram Manjhi commanding a considerable vote bank, particularly in Jehanabad and Gaya, Congress faces an uphill battle in leveraging Bhagirath Manjhi’s induction effectively.
While Congress sees Bhagirath Manjhi’s inclusion as a strategic move to consolidate Dalit votes, its actual impact remains uncertain. The real test will be during the assembly elections, where voter preferences and regional alliances will ultimately determine the political gains from this decision.