Nitish-Manjhi: How mango is the new polarising factor in Bihar politics

Known as king of the fruits; the juicy mangoes have so far been caste neutral in this country. But, not anymore. Not in caste-ridden Bihar at a time when the state is heading for a bitter elections in September-October this year. The zingy and succulent mangoes, have acquired an uncharacteristic polarising role with Bihar former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi using "denial of the exotic fruit to him" to make a caste-loaded political statement.

Manjhi, a Mahadalit installed as Bihar's chief minister in May 2014 by Nitish Kumar who also dethroned and replaced him in February 2015, has once again accused his former boss of being anti-Dalit. This time, the reason is a juicy one. Manjhi has accused Nitish of hatching a conspiracy to stop him from having the mangoes at 1, Anne Marg, the official residence of the Bihar chief minister, which Manjhi continues to occupy even after demitting office in February this year.

The Bihar chief ministerial bungalow at 1, Anne Marg, spread over five acres of land, has more than 100 herbal and aromatic plants. Those obviously don't interest Jitan Ram Manjhi much. But he has taken umbrage for being denied access over more than 30 mango trees in the bungalow that grows delicious Amrapali and Dashehri variety of the fruit.

The official residence of Bihar chief minister itself is faced with a peculiar crisis. While Jitan Ram Manjhi still occupies the residential premises, Nitish Kumar has taken over a part of the chief ministerial bungalow that houses offices and Janata Darbar venue. The somewhat dual ownership has added a tangy twist to the tale; without any clarity on who should have ownership over the succulent mangoes.

Though the rules suggest that the incumbent chief minister to have the first rights; while others can pay the market price to enjoy the fruits; the current controversy is steeped in politics, having no connection with the rulebook.

Though with both Nitish and Manjhi having their access to Bihar's chief ministerial bungalow has often caused confusions, nobody voiced any concern before. But the first flash of territory war was immediately visible when the mangoes started ripening at 1, Anne Marg.

Jitan Ram Manjhi, who obviously thought it will be a low-lying fruit, was shocked to see nearly two dozen policemen deployed to guard the mangoes. "The cops have been told to follow just one order. They have been tasked to prevent anyone from Manjhi's family from plucking the fruits," Manjhi alleges.

Manjhi has quickly read it as a clear case of discrimination against Dalits. "The Dalit from across the state keep visiting me in Patna. Their children sometimes pluck the mangoes and litchis. Now, it seems Nitish Kumar does not wish to let the Dalits sink their teeth into the mangoes, which is why he has deputed a bevy of policemen at 1, Anne Marg to guard the mango trees," said Manjhi.

Nitish Kumar, however, has denied any role in the mango mania. "I did not have even the faintest of idea about whether or not he has been denied access to the mangoes. However, now I have told the staffs to ensure that the fruits get delivered at his doorstep," he said. Though showcasing his magnanimity for mangoes, Nitish did not spare Manjhi and his fruity obsession. " I am concerned about aawam (general public). Those who think aam (mango) was of greater importance should be left alone with the fruits," he said.

Known for his proclivity of non-vegetarian food, this is the first time when Manjhi has bared his sweet tooth for the mangoes. With Bihar heading for elections, Jitan Ram Manjhi is apparently raking up the aam issue hoping it would yield him political fruits.

Manjhi is trying to squeeze Nitish dry of the Dalit votes by raking up the denial of mangoes to him as an issue of JD(U)'s discrimination against the Dalits. The Mahadalits, estimated to be 20 to 22 per cent of the state's population, are a substantial block that can make or mar political prospects of important individuals in Bihar elections, due in October-November this year.

As the mango mania turns into a full-throttle controversy in the State, Bihar political circles are agog, holding political debates on whether the mango can actually be ascribed a caste.

The one question that has ironically been left undiscussed is whether it was justified to deploy a posse of policemen to guard mangoes. These able-bodied men would have surely served a public purpose had they been deputed for maintaining law and order in the state. For the moment, the juicy fruits may have turned into sour grapes for Manjhi. But having been denied the mangoes, the Mahadalit leader seems even more determined to pass on the grapes to Nitish in this election year.

Till the elections, Bihar will continue to witness mango people in banana republic. Oops, this one plucked from Robert Vadra's Facebook post of 2012.