- Jitan Ram Manjhi rose from humble beginnings in Bihar’s Gaya district to become Chief Minister.
- He founded the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) after parting ways with JD(U).
- His steady local base keeps him relevant in Bihar’s coalition politics.
- Now MSME Minister, he continues to focus on rural issues and grassroots development.
New Delhi, 14th July: Jitan Ram Manjhi, born in 1944 in a modest village of Bihar’s Gaya district, stands out as one of the state’s most enduring political figures. Coming from humble beginnings, he pursued his early education in Gaya and later earned his bachelor’s degree from Magadh University, laying the foundation for a lifetime in public service.
Manjhi’s political career began in the early 1980s with the Indian National Congress, where he cut his teeth in grassroots politics. He then aligned with the Janata Dal, moving later to the Rashtriya Janata Dal under Lalu Prasad Yadav. His adaptability and understanding of Bihar’s changing political winds eventually brought him close to Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United).
A Surprise Elevation to Chief Minister
In 2014, following a poor showing in the Lok Sabha elections, Nitish Kumar stepped down as Bihar’s Chief Minister and unexpectedly handed the reins to Manjhi. For nearly a year, Manjhi served as Bihar’s 23rd Chief Minister — a period marked by both praise and political turmoil. When the alliance equations shifted, Manjhi resigned under pressure but swiftly bounced back by launching his own party, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) [HAM(S)] in 2015.
Electoral Performance: Punching Above His Weight
Despite leading a smaller party, Manjhi has maintained an influential presence in Bihar’s coalition-driven politics. His repeated victories from the Makhdumpur Assembly seat show a loyal local base and sharp political instincts. In the 2020 Assembly polls, HAM(S) contested as an NDA ally and won four seats — enough to secure Manjhi a bargaining chip in state and national politics.
This alliance culminated in June 2024 when he was inducted into Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet as the Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) — his first full-fledged role in the Union Council of Ministers.
Performance in Parliament: Consistent Voice for Rural Development
Over the years, Manjhi has served as both an MLA and a Rajya Sabha MP (2022–2024). Not known for aggressive oratory, he has quietly and steadily raised issues relevant to rural livelihoods and grassroots development. According to official Parliament records, he has asked more than 85 questions, focusing mainly on rural skill training, subsidy disbursement for small industries, and improving delivery under housing and sanitation schemes.
Session-wise, he has consistently sought clarifications on the timely release of loans to micro-enterprises, better monitoring of subsidy schemes, and special industrial packages for Bihar’s backward districts. His practical approach to policy questions reflects his commitment to bridging gaps between central schemes and ground realities.
At the Helm of MSMEs: A New Challenge
As the Minister for MSMEs, Manjhi now shoulders a portfolio vital to India’s small businesses and informal workforce. He has pledged to push for easier credit flow, expanded rural enterprise clusters, and job creation, especially in states like Bihar where small industries are the backbone of the local economy.
A Leader of Quiet Persistence
From a village in Gaya to the national cabinet, Manjhi’s life remains a testament to resilience and political pragmatism. His quiet but consistent presence shows how local leaders, deeply rooted in their constituencies, can continue to shape state and national politics for decades. The spotlight is now on whether he can turn his promises into lasting economic gains for millions relying on India’s small enterprises.
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