Then police was deployed at CM residence 1 Anne Marg! Interesting story of Nitish Vs Manjhi

Patna. There are always ups and downs in the politics of Bihar, but the period of 2014-15 was something special. This story is also interesting amid the bungalow controversy of former Deputy Chief Minister Rabri Devi. Actually, this story is about the chair of the Chief Minister and the bungalow located at 1, Anne Marg, Patna. At that time, Nitish Kumar had established himself as a symbol of good governance and development in Bihar, but the turn of events was such that he suddenly resigned and left power. After this, he returns again after nine months, but he had to struggle for three months to get back the Chief Minister’s bungalow.

Old story in discussion amid Rabri Bungalow controversy

Everything starts from the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) party broke the alliance with BJP and had to suffer the consequences of this. JDU was reduced to only two out of 40 seats in Bihar. Nitish Kumar felt moral responsibility and resigned from the post of Chief Minister on 17 May 2014. Along with his resignation, he said, “I accept my mistake and JDU will now elect a new leadership.” The strategy for transfer of power was prepared and Nitish Kumar chose Jitan Ram Manjhi, close to him and coming from the Dalit community. Manjhi because many times he had stood with Nitish Kumar on the issue of social justice. On May 20, 2014, Manjhi took oath as the Chief Minister and after this Nitish Kumar also left the bungalow. CM Bungalow at 1, Anne Marg was handed over to Jitan Ram Manjhi and he himself moved to 7, Circular Road, which was reserved for former Chief Ministers.

After the defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Nitish Kumar resigned and made Jitan Ram Manjhi the Chief Minister. (Courtesy-PTI)

The biggest political drama of 2014-15!

The beginning of Jitan Ram Manjhi’s tenure was peaceful, but soon controversies started emerging within JDU. Manjhi made objectionable comments on the upper castes, questioned the character of the wives of army personnel and accused his government of corruption. Dissatisfaction started increasing in the party and many JDU MLAs were in favor of making Nitish Kumar the CM again. Amidst this tension, from September 2014 to January 2015, Manjhi’s government remained dependent on the external support of RJD and Congress. But, after this again came the big political turning point of Bihar!

Interesting story of Manjhi vs Nitish ‘enmity’

In February 2015, Nitish announced his withdrawal and on 9 February, Jitan Ram Manjhi was expelled from JDU. Manjhi hit back and recommended dissolution of the assembly. But, here also there was a twist and the cabinet did not pass it. He requested Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi to remove two ministers. On the other hand, Nitish Kumar called a meeting of 97 MLAs and got himself selected as the leader of the legislative party. Although Patna High Court stopped it, Nitish Kumar did not stop and moved ahead with his power change campaign. On February 11, he went to Delhi with 128 MLAs and showed support to President Pranab Mukherjee.

When asked to leave the post of CM, Jitan Ram Manjhi refused and after a lot of tug of war, left the post of CM in 2015 (PTI)

Nitish returns and fight breaks out over bungalow!

The budget session was about to begin on 20 February 2015. The Governor asked Jitan Ram Manjhi to seek a vote of confidence. BJP supported Jitan Ram Manjhi, but in the morning suddenly Jitan Ram Manjhi resigned. He said, supporting MLAs are receiving threats and the Speaker is not conducting secret ballot. The assembly was adjourned. After this, on 22 February, Nitish Kumar took oath again along with 22 ministers. Seven ministers and 16 MLAs were suspended in JDU. After this Jitan Ram Manjhi formed Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM). But, the real drama happened at the CM’s bungalow. Even after Nitish Kumar took oath, Manjhi did not vacate 1, Anne Marg. Till March 2015 he remained adamant.

The most interesting fruit battle in Bihar politics!

Jitan Ram Manjhi said, I have no problem, but first Nitish Kumar should leave 7, Circular Road. Nitish government got angry and deployed police on 1 Anne Marg. Eight sub-inspectors and 16 constables were put on duty. Jitan Ram Manjhi alleged that Nitish Kumar does not even allow him to take the fruits of the bungalow. Actually, there were mango and litchi trees in the bungalow. In summer, if Manjhi’s supporters went to pluck fruits, the police would stop them. This controversy grew so much that it became a ‘war of fruits’ in the media. Nitish Kumar left the bungalow on Circular Road, but Manjhi did not budge. Ultimately, Manjhi vacated the bungalow in June 2015. He shifted to another government residence.

The bungalow dispute of Nitish Kumar, Jitan Ram Manjhi and Rabri Devi made the power struggle and ‘war of fruits’ memorable in the politics of Bihar. (PTI)

It is easy to change power, difficult to vacate the bungalow!

In the end, amid negotiations and political pressure, Jitan Ram Manjhi had to leave the bungalow at 1 Anne Marg, but by then this story had been recorded in the history of power in Bihar that before the change of chair, the bungalow dispute often comes in the headlines. This whole incident also shows the truth of Bihar politics in which it is easy to get a chair, but sometimes it becomes difficult to return the government bungalow. Now once again Nitish Kumar’s strong return to power in Bihar has made him invincible, but Jitan Ram Manjhi’s ‘rebellion’ amid the Rabri Devi Bungalow controversy still resonates in the politics of Bihar.