Is Manjhi refusing to work under Nitish's shadow?

Former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar anointed Jitan Ram Manjhi as his successor assuming that he would control the functioning State Government from behind the scene, but it seems things are not working out in favour of the JDU leader. Manjhi, whom the opposition parties tagged as 'puppet' CM, has started making his own ways.

Manjhi on Wednesday criticised Nitish, saying during his rule, the Government did nothing to curb corruption. Manjhi also shared his personal experience over corruption in Bihar, he said that his family had to pay a bribe of Rs 5000 to modify the electricity bill.

"I can say with experience that no work gets done in Government offices without bribe," said Manjhi adding, "My family members had to cough up Rs. 5,000 as bribe ' to the department officials to get the bill rectified even though I was a Minister in the Government."

Manjhi doesn't want to be a proxy ruler

Manjhi was sworn-in as Bihar Chief Minister after Nitish Kumar quit the post taking responsiblity for party's rout in the General elections.

He is considered more pliable and less assertive by his opponents. Since his appointment, critics have been raising question over his efficiency and tendency to run a successful Government in the State. But, with his recent statement, Manjhi has sent a strong signal to his opponents that he has come out of the whims of Nitish and capable of running a successful Government.

Nitish picked Jitan Ram Manjhi, a low profile leader for Chief Ministerial post to make his Government topple-proof. After a landslide victory in Lok Sabha poll, the BJP was trying every bit to destablise the JDU Government in the State, but Nitish anointed Manjhi as his successor, a mahadalit leader to woo dalit voters. The Bihar Government constitutes of 16 per cent Dalit population.

Manjhi is considered more pliable and less assertive

In a way, Nitish played gamble to counter LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan's Dalit vote bank and to prevent Dalit votes being drifted away to BJP.

Time is running and Manjhi has to prove his political skills

State Assembly polls are around the corner. So, time is running out for him, he has got very few days to prove his administrative skills. He has to harden his stance in order to prove that he has really comes out of the shadow of Nitish and no more dependent on his political skills.