Patna,(BiharTimes): Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi is these days quite busy clarifying his own remarks. For example, last week he virtually shielded small hoarders and black-marketeers. Two days later he clarified that the media has distorted his speech.

In the second week of August, at the height of campaign for by-polls for 10 seats, he said something about rampant corruption in the Nitish Kumar regime. He cited his own example to say how, he as a minister, had once become a victim to it. Than he tried to clarify what he said.

A couple of days later he had said that it would be wrong to equate the 15 years Lalu-Rabri raj with ‘Jungle Raj’. However, on this count he did not have to change his stand as the former chief minister Nitish Kumar himself said later that he had never said that there was Jungle Raj in Bihar. He only said that there was Aatank Raj (Reign of Terror) in the state. His opponents went on to ask as to what is the difference between the two.

On September 7 Manjhi went on to say that he would sit on dharna outside the prime minister Narendra Modi’s office if funds are not made available for the construction of multi-storeyed houses for Mahadalits in the urban centres of Bihar. On this very function organized by a Dalit organization in Khagaul in Patna he said that there is nothing wrong if small amount of alcohol is taken after the dinner. However, he asked the mahadalits to shun this habit as it has ruined many families.

Is it his plainspeaking which is being mis-interpreted by the media, as he sometimes alleged, or is there something really wrong in the style of his speech, which lands him and his party––especially his former boss Nitish Kumar––in trouble?

Anyway the political opponents and rebels within the Janata Dal (United) relish such remarks by none else but the chief minister of the state. One of his own party MLAs, without wishing to be named, was quoted in a newspaper as saying: Manjhi has become a ‘misguided missile’.

Some other political observers are of the view that the chief minister is getting carried away in his speech by asserting himself independently. Than suddenly he is reminded of the fact that he owes his position to somebody.

Manjhi is well aware that he comes from the weakest section of the Mahadalit and can be an asset for any party or alliance––even one led by the BJP. He is no doubt gaining confidence and sometimes he speaks well. His Teachers’ Day speech on September 5 was full with couplets and quotes.

Though he spoke before the prime minister he cited his own example as to how he used to travel long to go to school when he took admission in Class-VIII in 1956.

He advised the teachers to be aware of both the rights and duties and went on to criticize prime minister Narendra Modi for politicizing school education, which is essentially a state subject.

On Tuesday (Sep 9) he really embarrassed the party leadership by stating that he would expand the cabinet only after getting order from the party chief Sharad Yadav, former chief minister Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Congress president, Sonia Gandhi. By stating so he gave enough ammunition to the BJP to fire on the ruling Janata Dal (United) as well as Lalu Prasad and Congress party.

Manjhi is being watched closely by big brothers within his own party. If he grew in stature he may become a problem for his own party. His party is not in power in the Centre so as to accommodate him as Union minister after replacing him from the post of the chief minister after the next Assembly election. Or like former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Babulal Gaur, who joined the Shivraj Singh Chauhan government as a minister, Manjhi may work as a cabinet minister in the next Nitish cabinet. There is another example in Tamil Nadu too.