Archive · 12 Nov 2025
Jitan Ram Manjhi: From Nitish's Proxy to Union Minister
Imagine a politician named Jitan Ram Manjhi who started as a loyal friend to a bigger politician, Nitish Kumar.
Nitish made Jitan the leader of Bihar for a little while when Nitish needed to step down.
Jitan was from a community that didn't have much power, called Mahadalit.
He wasn't supposed to be the leader for long, but Jitan decided he wanted to lead on his own!
This made Nitish angry, and Jitan was kicked out of his party.
But Jitan started his own political group and kept working hard.
He eventually became a minister in the central government, showing that even someone who starts small can become very important in politics, especially in a place like Bihar where friendships and belonging to certain groups really matter.
Jitan Ram Manjhi, from Bihar's Mahadalit Mushahar community, became Bihar's 23rd Chief Minister in May 2014.
Nitish Kumar appointed Manjhi as his successor in a strategic move after JD(U)'s poor performance in general elections.
Manjhi later rebelled against Nitish Kumar, leading to his expulsion from JD(U) and the formation of his own party, Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAMS).
His political journey included alliances with both the Mahagathbandhan and the NDA, culminating in his victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Manjhi is now the Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, marking a significant national breakthrough.
His political career is characterized by persistence, strategic shifts, and leveraging his identity within Bihar's complex political landscape.
- Who
- Jitan Ram Manjhi
- What
- Rose from a low-profile loyalist to Bihar's Chief Minister and subsequently became a Union Minister, exemplifying Bihar's fluid, personality-driven politics.
- When
- Became Bihar CM in May 2014, was expelled from JD(U) in Feb 2015, founded HAMS in May 2015, and became Union Minister after winning Lok Sabha seat in 2024.
- Where
- Bihar, India, and currently serving as a Union Minister in the central government.
- Why
- His rise is attributed to Nitish Kumar's political gambit, his own persistence, strategic defections, caste arithmetic, and establishing a regional party.
- Born
- 1944
- Community
- Mahadalit Mushahar
- First Elected to Bihar Assembly
- 1980 (Congress-I)
- Became Bihar CM
- May 20, 2014
- Expelled from JD(U)
- February 9, 2015
- Founded HAMS
- May 8, 2015
- Elected to Lok Sabha
- 2024 (Gaya)
- Current Union Minister
- Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises