Manjhi, son to contest polls from 'unreserved seats'

Patna, Mar 22: Echoing RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's statement to review reservation policy, former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Monday announced that he and his son would contest election from 'unreserved seats' in order to give benefits of reservation to others.

"I and my son Santosh Kumar Suman would contest from general constituency in future," Manjhi, the president of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), told reporters here.

Manjhi, party is an ally of the BJP, said he has taken the decision in order to give benefits of reservation to a large section of the reserved category people who have been deprived of the quota benefits.

Defending RSS chief's statement on reviewing quota policy, Manjhi said "The reservation policy should be reviewed as a large section of reserved category people are not getting any benefit of reservation. Everyone should be given equal opportunity."

Bhagwat too had advocated giving equal opportunity to the people and there was nothing wrong in it, he added.

The RSS chief initiated the debate on reviewing reservation policy during Bihar Assembly elections last year, which, political analysts say, had affected BJP's chances to come to power in the state.

RSS chief once again suggested that a non-political committee should be formed to decide on the eligibility for reservation last month.

PTI