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Lalu Prasad Yadav, Jitan Ram Manjhi
– Photo: ANI (File)
Expansion
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi had recently described former Chief Minister Lalu Yadav as belonging to the shepherd caste. Countering this, Lalu on Thursday raised the question in his own style – Are you a Musahar? Manjhi also did not delay in replying to this. He said that he is a Musahar and is proud of his caste.
This whole controversy regarding caste started after the houses of Dalits were burnt in Nawada district, in which attacks were made on the caste and degree of both the former Chief Ministers. There is still some time left for the elections in the state, but efforts to sharpen caste politics have intensified. On the other hand, Manjhi wrote on social media, we are Musahar-Bhuiyan, our father was Musahar-Bhuiyan, our grandfather was Musahar-Bhuiyan, our great grandfather was Musahar-Bhuiyan. And we proudly say that we are Musahar, Bhuiyan. Manjhi’s statement reflects his strategy under which he is trying to woo the voters of Mahadalit and other backward castes. This rhetoric of Manjhi and Lalu is going to lay the foundation of caste polarization in the upcoming elections.
Manjhi’s strategy is clearly to woo Mahadalits and backward caste voters, while Lalu Yadav is trying to consolidate his old vote bank. This statement of Lalu also makes it clear that he is worried about his vote bank and is taking any challenge seriously.