HAM chief Jitan Ram Manjhi files nomination from Gaya

Patna, March 25 (IANS) Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Monday filed his nomination papers from the Gaya parliamentary constituency for the Lok Sabha polls.

Manjhi's party is part of the opposition Grand Alliance of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) and Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP).

Manjhi was accompanied by several leaders of the Grand Alliance, including former minister and RJD legislator Surender Yadav and Congress legislator Avadesh Singh. Party workers and supporters raised loud slogans as he submitted the documents.

Gaya is Manjhi's home district. He belongs to the Musahar community, one of the most backward communities.

The ruling NDA has fielded Vijay Manjhi of the Janata Dal-United from Gaya as the seat went to the JD-U according to the seat sharing formula.

This seat was won by BJP's Hari Manjhi in 2014.

Gaya is one of the five Lok Sabha seats in Bihar that the BJP has given to the JD-U, despite having sitting MPs.

After filing his nomination, Manjhi said: "People have made up mind to vote against BJP led NDA",he said.

As per the seat sharing formula announced on March 22, the RJD will contest 20 of the 40 seats and the Congress nine, while smaller parties will be in contention in the remaining constituencies.

The RLSP will put up candidates in 5 seats, HAM and VIP in 3 each and the RJD will give one seat out of its quota to the Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist (CPI-ML).

The election process for first and second phase of polling for Lok Sabha polls was underway in Bihar, which will vote in all seven phases.