NEW DELHI: Welfare minister in the Nitish Kumar government, Jitan Ram Manjhi had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Gaya.
He however managed to retain his security deposit. Manjhi, a senior Mahadalt leader, is currently an MLA from Makhdumpur constituency of Jehanabad constituency.
A low profile 68-year-old politician, he was inducted into the first cabinet of Nitish Kumar in 2005 but was told to resign the next day due to his his alleged involvement in the B.Ed degree scam.
He allegedly had given recognition to several non-existent B.Ed degree colleges during his tenure as education minister in the Rabri Devi government.
Later in 2008, he was again inducted into the cabinet after being absolved in the case.
He started his career as a clerk in the department of Post and Telegraph, but soon joined politics and served as minister under three chief ministers – Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi of RJD and Nitish Kumar of Janata Dal (United) .