File picture of Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.
Hours before he seeks a vote of confidence in the state Assembly, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi scripted yet another controversy by saying, in a public speech, "You want to become a minister, come to me."
Mr Manjhi was addressing a Mahadalits convention at Patna's SK Memorial Hall when he made the comment that is being interpreted by political rivals as a bribe offer ahead of the trust vote. He told the gathering that he was fighting for the pride of Mahadalits and would do all he could to save his government.
Mr Manjhi faces an uphill task in the Assembly tomorrow; he needs to show the support of 117 legislators to remain Chief Minister. Even if the BJP decides this evening to support him with its 87 MLAs, Mr Manjhi looks set to fall short.
Nitish Kumar, the man who wants to be Chief Minister in Mr Manjhi's stead, has the support of 128 MLAs. His party the Janata Dal (United) or JD (U) has been granted the status of chief opposition today by the Bihar Speaker.
Mr Manjhi, who was expelled by the JD (U) earlier this month for his refusal to resign and make way for Nitish Kumar, has said he is appealing to no party for votes tomorrow. But, he says, he has made an appeal to individual legislators to support him.
Refusing to let go without a fight right to the end, Mr Manjhi has also called a cabinet meeting this evening. He has also filed a suit in a Patna court challenging his dismissal from the Janata Dal (United) without a notice by party president Sharad Yadav.
Mr Manjhi's presence today at the Mahadalit convention is seen as another effort to play his political trumpcard - Mr Manjhi belongs to the Mahadalit community, one of the poorest and most underprivileged in Bihar and also one with a substantial vote in the state.
The BJP, which has decided to give strategic support to Mr Manjhi in tomorrow's trust vote, knowing that he is likely to lose, says it cannot let down a Mahadalit who has been "insulted" by his party and Nitish Kumar.