Facing imminent defeat, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today resigned ahead of the trust vote, saying that he decided to step down as his supporters were issued death threats and he did not want the legislators to lose their Assembly membership.
He claimed that he was being stripped of his honour and dignity at the behest of his erstwhile mentor because he was a Dalit and thus, like Draupadi, helpless in a darbar surrounded by powerful leaders.
The battle lines in Bihar are almost clearly drawn today. As a snap poll by ABP-Nielsen suggested on Thursday, the Nitish-Lalu combine appears to be way ahead of the BJP and its allies in the state. According to the survey, there is a huge gap of almost 15 percent (56 JD (U)-RJD and 41 BJP+) in the number of people who are likely to vote for the two coalitions. If a 15 percent gap translates into votes on the polling day and Lalu stays in the coalition, the BJP is likely to be wiped out in Bihar and Nitish will become the king again.
