BJP leader Thakur invites CM Manjhi to join ‘Dalit-friendly’ BJP

Patna : BJP national vice president and former Union minister CP Thakur on Thursday invited Bihar Chief Minister Jeetan Ram Manjhi to join “Dalit-friendly” BJP. Thakur, who is known for his frankness, said since Manjhi had been “feeling suffocated and are not able to take his decisions“, he should quit JD (U) and join BJP.

Speaking to reporters at Patna this morning, former BJP state president Thakur said: “Recent statements of Manjhi show that he feels suffocated in JD (U) and is not allowed to follow his mind. We invite him to join BJP that respects Dalits and talks about their rights and welfare.”

Thakur said though Manjhi was made Chief Minister, he had “not been given full power to exercise his authority as the CM”. “BJP is as much party of Dalits. Manjhi is most welcome”, he said. Manjhi had said at a Gaya function recently that “though he was the CM, he was afraid of taking tough decision for fear of scrutiny”. HRD minister Brishen Patel, however, said Manjhi had been very much “taking his own decisions and his Gaya statements were made in a different context”.

With former CM Nitish Kumar all set to embark on Sampark Yatra from 13 November to “reinstate his position as supreme JD (U) leader”, Manjhi has been trying to position himself as a Dalit leader.