How strong is Santosh Manjhi among Dalits?
The resignation of Santosh Suman Manjhi, the leader of HAM (Hindustani Awam Morcha) from the Grand Alliance government of Bihar is widely discussed in the political circles. Santosh Manjhi, son of former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, was on the post of Scheduled Castes, Tribes Welfare Minister in Bihar government. For the last few months, he has been taking decisions related to Jitan Manjhi’s party. Santosh Manjhi was born on 10 February 1975 in Mahakar village of Gaya district. In the year 2000, he passed the UGC NET exam. He did his PhD in 2003 from Magadh University, Bihar. Since father was in politics, Santosh also became active with him from the beginning.
Political innings of Santosh Manjhi
In the year 2018, Santosh Suman became a member of the Legislative Council. In the year 2020, he was inducted into the cabinet in the Nitish Kumar-led government and was made the Minister of Minor Irrigation and Scheduled Castes and Tribes. Nitish Kumar was in NDA then. After this he parted ways with the NDA and then formed the Grand Alliance government with the RJD and the Congress. During this, Nitish’s cabinet was expanded in March 2023 and Santosh Manjhi was included in the cabinet again.
Why did Nitish resign from the government
In a statement issued by Santosh Manjhi after resigning from the post, it was said that he was under pressure to merge the party, that is why he has resigned from the cabinet. Santosh Manjhi’s father Jitan Ram Manjhi is a seasoned politician. Jitan Ram Manjhi has been the CM of Bihar. He also became a minister in Bihar several times. He has been active in politics for almost 40 years. From 20 May 2014 to 20 February 2015, he held the post of CM of Bihar.
How much impact in the politics of Bihar
If we look at the caste equation of Bihar, there are about 15 percent voters from scheduled castes and tribes. Manjhi also comes from this caste and this is the reason why the Nitish government had given Manjhi an important place in the cabinet for the second time. Santosh Manjhi, who has often been caught in controversies due to his statements, has been trying his best to become a leader of Dalits for the last few years. He had also criticized the prohibition policy while in the government. After the exit of Santosh Manjhi from the government, the Nitish government appointed another Dalit leader Ratnesh Sada as a minister in his place to avoid any loss among the Dalits.
Will Akash become number 2 in BSP?
Recently, Mayawati has given a big responsibility to her nephew Akash Anand to win the party in the elections to be held in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana in view of the upcoming assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Akash is currently the National Coordinator of BSP. He is the son of Mayawati’s brother Anand Kumar. Anand Kumar had once been the vice-president of the party, but upset over something, Mayawati withdrew this responsibility from him.
When did Akash enter politics
Akash’s entry into politics happened in the year 2017 when Mayawati publicly presented him on stage for the first time in a huge rally in Saharanpur. After that he started increasing his activism within the party, but his first major responsibility came during the 2019 general elections, when the party made him a star campaigner. Then he was made the National Coordinator of the party. The party’s thought behind giving the responsibility to Akash was to connect himself with the youth of the country and give opportunity to new and young faces in place of old leaders.
very active on social media
The credit goes to Akash for the way the party has been active on social media in the last few years. Recognizing the power of social media, he convinced Bua to come and be active on social media. Akash himself is also very active on social media. While on one hand he is seen doing the work of the organization, on the other hand he is also seen with Mayawati in every political meeting and important programs of the party. Whether it is Mayawati’s meeting with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav or with SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav. Akash was with Bua even during the announcement of the tie-up with the BSP-Samajwadi Party in view of the 2019 general elections.
Akash’s stature increased rapidly in BSP
The way Akash has grown in stature within the party in the last five years and after that the way he has recently been given the election charge of four states, it is clear that Mayawati is grooming Akash as her successor. Have been At present, his status in the party is considered to be number two after Mayawati. Akash, who has an MBA degree from London, got married in March this year, which was made a big political opportunity by Mayawati and BSP. Akash is married to Pragya, a doctor daughter of former MP Ashok Siddharth, a close and trusted leader of Mayawati, who is currently pursuing MD.