Son of 'mountain man' Dashrath Manjhi accuses Rahul Gandhi of denying Congress ticket despite assurance for Bihar polls

Dashrath Manjhi’s son Bhagirath Manjhi (File photo: PTI)

Son of 'mountain man' Dashrath Manjhi, Bhagirath Manjhi, has alleged that Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had assured him that he would be given the ticket to contest in the upcoming Bihar polls, however, despite staying in Delhi for 4 days, he did not get the ticket. Manjhi expressed his disappointment over not getting the ticket from the Congress party for the Bihar polls slated to be held in two phases on November 6 and 11 with counting on November 14.

Manjhi said that he was given assurances for the ticket. Speaking to news agency Manjhi said that he had travelled to Delhi and submitted all the papers.

He also mentioned that he had asked Rahul Gandhi for the ticket, and he had assured him that he would be given the chance to contest elections as the candidate of Congress party

He said he stayed in Delhi for four days in the hope of securing a ticket to contest in the elections but did not get to meet Rahul Gandhi.

"I stayed in Delhi for 4 days but didn't get the ticket... I had submitted all the papers. I had asked Rahul Gandhi for the ticket, and he had said that he would give the ticket... I was hopeful of getting the ticket... Everyone was given tickets, but we didn't get the tickets. I stayed in Delhi for 4 days. I didn't get to meet Rahul Gandhi," Manjhi told the news agency.

In August this year, Bhagirath Manjhi, expressed gratitude towards Rahul Gandhi, as he has built a pucca house for his family in Bihar's Gaya.

Speaking to ANI , Bhagirath had said, "...When I met Rahul Gandhi in Patna, I told Rahul Gandhi to come and see the path that my father had carved using a hammer and chisel...So, he came. Rahul Gandhi and I sat together on the cot, drank coconut water, and had a meal...He asked the village children if they studied or not."

Bhagirath had said that he never asked Rahul Gandhi to build a house for him.

"We came later to know about it...He got the house ready in a month...Later, he handed over the keys of the house during his visit to Gaya," he added.

Bhagirath further said, "There are 5 rooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and everything is ready. There was a water problem before, but now it has been resolved. Fans have also been installed in all the rooms."

"Now there is no problem. I am happy that Rahul Gandhi built this house... We are very grateful to Rahul Gandhi," he added.

His father 'mountain man' Dashrath Manjhi lived in Gehlaur village, near Gaya. As per the Bihar Government, Dashrath Manjhi carved a path 110 m long (360 ft), 9.1 m (30 ft) wide and 7.7 m (25 ft) deep through a ridge of hills using only a hammer and chisel.

After 22 years of work, Dashrath shortened the travel between the Atri and Wazirganj blocks of Gaya town from 55 km to 15 km.

He breathed his last on August 17, 2007, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. The Government of Bihar gave him a state funeral, proposed his name for the Padma Shri award in 2006 in the social service sector and released a stamp by the India Post in the 'Personalities of Bihar' series on December 26, 2016.

Rahul Gandhi had paid tribute to Dashrath Manjhi on his death anniversary. He highlighted that Manjhi's determination and passion to accomplish his goals will continue to inspire everyone.

In his message on X, Gandhi said, "I offer humble tributes to Mountain Man Dashrath Manjhi Ji on his death anniversary. His struggle reminds us that if intentions are strong, no obstacle is too big .His determination and passion to accomplish what he set out to do will always continue to inspire us all."