Political Storm in Bihar After Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Alleged Remarks on Election “Management”

A major political controversy has erupted in Bihar after a video surfaced allegedly showing Union Minister and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi claiming that he had helped a candidate win an election through “understanding” with the District Magistrate. The remarks, reportedly made in Magahi during a public programme in Gaya district, have reignited allegations of vote manipulation and administrative interference in elections.

According to the viral video, Manjhi is heard saying that in the 2020 Assembly elections, a candidate who was trailing by nearly 2,700 votes was made victorious after he intervened and coordinated with the district administration. He further allegedly stated that in the 2025 election, the same candidate lost by just 1,600 votes and could have been made to win had he approached Manjhi in time.

“If he had spoken to us, as he did in 2020, the result would have been different. That time he was losing by 2,700 votes, yet he won. This time it was only a matter of 1,600 votes,” Manjhi is heard saying in the video.

The remarks were reportedly made at a programme in Mohanpur block of Barachatti Assembly constituency in Gaya district. As the controversy broke, it sent shockwaves through Bihar’s political landscape, with opposition parties accusing the ruling establishment of systematic electoral manipulation.

RJD Alleges Electoral Fraud

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) seized upon the video, sharing it on social media and launching a scathing attack on the Election Commission and the government. In a strongly worded post, RJD claimed that the video exposes how elections were allegedly “managed” with the help of senior administrative officers, including a then District Magistrate posted in 2020, who is currently serving in Tripura.

RJD alleged that the statement validates long-standing opposition claims of vote theft, administrative bias, and misuse of state machinery to influence election outcomes. The party questioned the credibility of democratic institutions and demanded accountability from the Election Commission.

Manjhi Rejects Allegations, Claims Video Tampering

Responding to the uproar, Jitan Ram Manjhi dismissed the allegations, asserting that the viral clip had been doctored and taken out of context. In a post on social media platform X, Manjhi said attempts were being made to defame him by manipulating the video.

“Those who think they can defame the son of the Musahar community by tampering with a video should know that I can neither be insulted nor fooled. The truth will prevail,” Manjhi wrote, adding that he is no longer afraid of political attacks.

Renewed Debate on Electoral Integrity

The controversy comes at a sensitive time, as allegations of vote rigging and electoral irregularities linked to the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections have already been dominating political discourse. Manjhi’s alleged remarks have added fuel to the fire, intensifying demands for an independent probe into the conduct of past elections and the role of administrative officials.

As political temperatures rise, all eyes are now on the Election Commission and investigative agencies to clarify the facts and address growing concerns over the sanctity of the democratic process in Bihar.