Patna | PTO Bureau | Agencies Input
Patna – Bihar’s political landscape is once again simmering with an internal rift in the NDA alliance, as two prominent Dalit leaders, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Chirag Paswan, President of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), engage in a full-blown war of words—online and offline—amid rising tension over leadership stature and seat-sharing equations for the upcoming assembly elections.
The political friction, which has been intensifying since the Lok Sabha elections, reached a new crescendo this week as party spokespersons and senior leaders took to social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) to launch sharp barbs at each other. At the center of this verbal duel lies a tug-of-war over the Dalit vote bank, combined with competing ambitions to gain leverage within the NDA fold.
Mythology Meets Politics: Symbolism in Slander
The war of metaphors began when Arun Bharti, MP from LJP (Ram Vilas) and brother-in-law of Chirag Paswan, posted on Facebook invoking the Mahabharata:
“When Pitamah Bhishma, Dhritarashtra, Gandhari and Shakuni remained silent, it was Abhimanyu, despite his inexperience, who entered the Chakravyuh. Because honoring the time doesn’t require experience but a new resolve.”
This poetic analogy seemed to subtly pitch Chirag as a modern-day Abhimanyu—brave, isolated, and determined.
In response, E. Nandlal Manjhi, National Spokesperson of HAM, countered with a parable on X:
“A king once appointed a monkey as his guard. Inexperienced, the monkey tried to kill a fly on the king’s face and ended up beheading the king. The lesson: always keep experienced people around you. And history proves—Abhimanyu always dies in war.”
The exchange not only reflects the bitterness brewing between the two factions but also hints at a deeper ideological and strategic divide over leadership legitimacy within Bihar’s Dalit political space.
Chirag’s Aggression Sparks Concern Within NDA
Chirag Paswan has recently intensified his criticism of the state’s law and order situation, indirectly targeting NDA’s governance under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. His assertion of fighting from all seats and targeting the administration is seen by many within the alliance as disruptive.
Jitan Ram Manjhi had earlier cautioned him, saying, “You can’t enjoy the alliance perks like jaggery and yet complain about the sweetness.” He emphasized that while it’s easy to question law and order, following alliance discipline is not that difficult—a clear dig at Chirag’s maverick approach.
A Battle for Seats—and Supremacy
Beneath the poetic jibes lies a more practical political battle—seat-sharing. Chirag Paswan, emboldened by his performance in the Lok Sabha polls, is signaling intentions to contest on a larger number of assembly seats, even hinting at fielding candidates across all 243 constituencies. This has raised alarms within the HAM camp.
Jitan Ram Manjhi, whose party was allocated just one seat in the recent general elections, is reportedly seeking a larger share this time around. He fears that Chirag’s growing influence and pressure tactics might eventually lead to a reduction in HAM’s seat share.
Both leaders are locked in a rivalry to emerge as the undisputed Dalit face of the NDA in Bihar—a contest that threatens to destabilize the fragile alliance if not managed in time.
Digital Battleground and Public Perception
What’s notable is how this feud is playing out prominently on digital platforms. Both parties have turned Facebook and X into virtual war rooms, mobilizing narratives, symbolic attacks, and counter-statements in real time, reflecting a new-age political communication strategy rooted in spectacle and symbolism.
While Chirag projects youthful assertiveness, Manjhi banks on political maturity and experience. Their clash represents not just generational change but also divergent strategies in coalition politics—one relies on visibility and bold posturing, the other on quiet negotiation and legacy.
As the Bihar assembly elections approach, these fault lines within the NDA—if left unaddressed—could create significant electoral ripples. The coalition’s ability to manage ambitions, balance seat allocations, and avoid public spats may determine its electoral fortunes in one of India’s most politically vibrant states.
