I was stupid to have made Manjhi CM: Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Already embroiled in a major row sparked by his graphic description of procreation, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar landed himself in a fresh controversy by lashing out at Mahadalit leader and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, when the latter was participating in the debate on the bill to raise the quota cap.
Nitish erupted in fury when the 80-year-old leader from the Musahar community, the most disadvantaged group in the poorest state, seemed to suggest that experience showed that reservations per se were not a sufficient guarantee for upliftment of dalits.The CM appeared to take exception to Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary allowing Manjhi to participate in the debate. "Isko koi sense hai?" he angrily asked and went on to emphasise several times that it was he who had committed the "stupidity of making Manjhi the CM in 2014".

The outburst again put focus on what is being referred to as the CM's emotional fragility, with BJP and other opponents talking about erosion of his mental strength. "The derogatory, 'tum tadak' language he has used against me is proof that Nitish ji had lost his mental balance," Manjhi said, adding that the CM targeted him because he belonged to the poor and weak Bhuiyan Musahar community. He also said that if Nitish was "man enough", he should show similar machismo against JD(U) national chief Lallan Singh, an upper caste Bhumihar.
Manjhi said he was senior to Nitish, both in age and in terms of legislative experience, having entered the assembly in 1980 whereas Nitish made the grade five years later.
Nitish continued his tirade against Manjhi and pushed aside parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Chaudhary when the latter tried to cool him down. Nitish, who disregarded Chaudhary's plea to move on, appeared upset with Manjhi being referred to as former CM and, hence, a peer.
The row gave fuel to the fight between the Nitish-RJD combine and BJP with saffron leader Sushil Modi demanding Nitish's resignation. "Nitish has lost his mental balance and is not fit to continue as CM of the state. First, he made vulgar remarks on women, and has now insulted Manjhi, who belongs to a Mahadalit caste. He should now hand over his chair to his heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav, and retire from politics," Modi said.