Bihar 2nd phase polls: Manjhi, who has lot at stake, tells voters to "first vote, then booze"

Patna, Oct 15: Former Bihar chief minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, who is all set to test his fate tomorrow (Friday, Oct, 16) told people to first vote and then booze.

"Pahle matdaan, phir madyapaan", the Mahadalit leader was as quoted saying to his supporters. He urged people not to consume alcohol till they cast their votes tomorrow. [Bihar Polls: Know all about 2nd phase]

Manjhi has also alleged that the opponent party leaders have distributed liquor and money to poor electorate to influence voting. [Know your leader Profile: Jitan Ram Manjhi]

He also alleged that the distributed alcohol may have been intoxicated.

To test his popularity, Manjhi is contesting from two assembly seats- one his traditional seat Makhdumpur (SC) in Jehanabad and Imamganj (SC) in Gaya.

In one of his major challenge, Manjhi will face JD(U) candidate and state Assembly speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary in Imamganj constituency.

In Makhdumpur, he is pitted against RJD candidate Subedar Das.

Manjhi's son Santosh Kumar is contesting from Kutumba seat (reserved) in Aurangabad district and his son-in-law Devendra Manjhi is contesting from Bodh Gaya seat
as an independent.

Manjhi, who parted ways with the ruling JD(U) following the differences with Nitish Kumar, formed his own political party HAM.

On June 11, 2015, Manjhi, who belongs to Mushahar caste, declared that his party will forge a pre-poll alliance with the BJP.

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