(MENAFN- The Peninsula) BJP chief Amit Shah recently called up former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and asked him to finalise an alliance with the BJP by June 15 for "clarity", sources said.
Manjhi has earlier met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP chief, reportedly to discuss the prospects of his party, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), joining hands with the BJP for the forthcoming Bihar elections. But no formal commitment between the BJP and Manjhi's party has been made yet, said sources.
The former Bihar CM reportedly wants his party candidates to contest from 50 seats in the elections, but may have to settle for fewer seats.
The call comes days after the HAM leader accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of deploying 24 policemen to guard over 100 mango, litchi and jackfruit trees at the CM's residence, which is currently occupied by Manjhi. In the midst of this row, the former CM reportedly sowed some mangoes and litchi saplings to mark World Environment Day on Friday.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad, a former CM himself, fuelled the controversy further by claiming he and wife Rabri, also a former CM, had the first right over the fruits in the chief minister's residence as they were the ones who had planted the trees in the garden.
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