Patna,(BiharTimes): Former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Sunday demanded at least 70 seats for his party, the Hindustani Awam Morcha, for the coming Assembly election in Bihar.

Talking to the media after his return from Delhi and Ajmer––he met BJP chief Amit Shah on June 11––Manjhi said that his party can win more than 70 seats so it should be allotted as many seats. He said that the BJP can not win in many seats whereas his party’s candidate can.

The former CM said that HAM is not going to merge with the BJP, but would only enter into a seat-sharing arrangement.

He said that he had told the prime minister that the NDA would be defeated if Narendra Modi himself does not take the lead. If this is not done the BJP would be routed as in Delhi.

Political observers are surprised at the tone and tenor of Manjhi. Many in the state BJP too were surprised with his statement.