Patna,(BiharTimes): Stating that the reservation bar for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs should be raised from 49.5 to 80 per cent Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Thursday said something which many within his party and outside may not like.

Speaking at a function in Adapur, East Champaran district, Manjhi said he would seriously wish that the next chief minister of Bihar comes from a Scheduled Caste.He once again said that he became the chief minister by fate and blessings of Nitish Kumar, but would now like to see next chief minister from a Scheduled Caste.Manjhi said it did not matter whether he gets another chance or not but the next chief minister must come from a Scheduled Caste.

However, Manjhi did not miss the opportunity to thank Nitish for showing great foresight in appointing him as his successor. Nitish could have picked up a leader from his own caste or anybody else but he did not do that, the chief minister added.

Manjhi also said that reservation be hiked to 80 per cent to be in sync with the population of SCs, STs and OBCs. He said he would work for building a consensus on the issue with like-minded parties and, if needed, may launch an agitation to press for it.The chief minister urged MPs of different parties to raise
this demand during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.