Patna - Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi advocated for Dalit political consolidation during today's Samagam rally at Gandhi Maidan in Bihar, emphasizing the community's potential electoral strength ahead of the 2025 state assembly elections.

Speaking at the event attended by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, and other NDA leaders, Manjhi invoked Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's philosophy, stating: "Politics is the key, and development is the lock. If Dalits do not hold the key, they cannot open the lock and will continue to struggle."

Manjhi highlighted that Dalits constitute approximately 30 percent of Bihar's population, arguing this demographic strength should translate into greater political influence. "Our population is the highest, not less than 30 percent. But who has the power? Ambedkar made us Dalits, he did not divide us into many castes. If your 30 percent population unites, then there will be no need to ask anyone," he said.

The minister called for classification within Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) based on literacy and socio-economic factors. He also urged the state government to conduct a survey of Dalit representation in Class I and Class II officer positions, claiming current representation is inadequate.

Additionally, Manjhi advocated for establishing a Safai Karamchari Commission in Bihar to address issues faced by sanitation workers, similar to commissions operating at the central level and in other states.

The rally comes amid reports of possible tensions between Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular (HAMS) party and the BJP-JDU alliance following a cabinet reshuffle on Thursday in which his son, Santosh Kumar Suman, lost two ministerial portfolios.