File photo of Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi. (Press Trust of India)
Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, whose proposed inclusion in the Janata Parivar alliance has sharpened differences between Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad, has arrived in the capital to hold talks with BJP leaders for a possible tie-up in the poll-bound state.
Sources close to him said the Mahadalit leader is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a day or two as the BJP-led NDA looks to widen its base in the state.
BJP President Amit Shah had yesterday hinted at joining hands with Mr Manjhi, saying talks are on and his party's doors are open for new allies.
Mr Manjhi is being eyed by BJP-led NDA as well as Prasad as their new ally as the Mahadalit community has the potential of tilting the scale in favour of either of the two alliances.
Many believe that his populist policies when he was the Chief Minister, besides his sacking from the hot seat by JD(U), has generated some sympathy for him in his community even though he remains an "untested commodity".
Prasad, the RJD president, had recently proposed that Mr Manjhi be included in the grand alliance against BJP, inviting sharp response from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who is against any truck with his former protege.
Mr Manjhi had also made it clear that he would not be part of any combination which includes Kumar.
With differences between Kumar and Prasad coming to the fore, BJP believes it can wrest the state from the two Bihar satraps who together have ruled it for the last 25 years.