Bhagirath Manjhi Join Congress: Dashrath Manjhi, famous as Mountain Man and resident of Gehlaur village of Gaya district of Bihar, is famous in the whole country and the world. On Tuesday (28 January) his only son Bhagirath Manjhi joined Congress in Delhi. Earlier he was in JDU. Assembly elections are also due in Bihar this year, so the question arises that which party will be harmed by the entry of Dashrath Manjhi's son in Congress? Or will it not make any difference? 

Bhagirath Manjhi belongs to the Musahar caste. It is believed that this caste constitutes about 3 percent of Bihar population. The Musahar community is more in Gaya and Jehanabad. Apart from this, the Manjhi community is more in Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Purnia and Katihar in Kosi Seemanchal of North Bihar. Before the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, Congress has included Bhagirath Manjhi in its party, but how much will it benefit? If Jitan Ram Manjhi is in the NDA, then the question is how much will the ruling party suffer?

There may be some benefit in the name of Dashrath Manjhi

Santosh Kumar, a senior journalist and expert in Bihar politics, said that Dashrath Manjhi's name is a brand. Bhagirath Manjhi is his son. Congress may get some benefit from Dashrath Manjhi's name, but not much. The reason is that Bhagirath Manjhi has never been in an active role in politics. Congress will also benefit when Bhagirath Manjhi is promoted further as a Dalit leader. He will be given a post. If he contests elections from any assembly seat, he may get benefit from it.

People of Musahar community consider Jitan Ram Manjhi as their leader

Senior journalist Mukesh Pandey, who lives near Dashrath Manjhi's village Gahlaur, says that Bhagirath Manjhi does not have the influence in the village or nearby areas to get the votes of his community in his favour. His job is to roam around and sit with someone and leave. Jitan Ram Manjhi has more influence in Gaya district. The people of the Musahar community of Dashrath Manjhi's area also consider Jitan Ram Manjhi as their leader.

Let us tell you that there are 13 assembly seats in Jehanabad and Gaya. In all these 13 assembly seats, the vote bank of the Musahar community is considered to be of Jeetram Manjhi. Four out of 13 assembly constituencies are reserved. There are 10 assembly constituencies in Gaya district, out of which three are Barachatti, Imamganj and Bodhgaya reserved seats. Makhdumpur assembly constituency in Jehanabad is a reserved seat. The number of Manjhi community is more on these seats. If Bhagirath Manjhi is given a ticket on any one of these four seats, then Congress can make an impact on other seats as well.

Mukesh Pandey said that Dashrath Manjhi died in 2007. After that Nitish Kumar got a lot of work done in his village. Gehlaur village has developed as a tourist spot. Dashrath Manjhi's Smriti Bhavan has been built. A museum has also been built. There are street lights in the village and the road is also in good condition. Arrangements for a park have been made. Overall, the view there is worth seeing. 

He said that his family has not been given much facilities by the Nitish government, but his granddaughter was made an Anganwadi worker. When a house was demanded for living, they got a house as Indira Awas. After this, it was verbally said that the whole family can live in Smriti Bhawan. The Manjhi community is not very angry with Nitish Kumar due to all this. In such a situation, it remains to be seen whether Congress will benefit from this or not.