"We are seeking respect and (hence) a respectable number of seats from the NDA in upcoming assembly polls....So long as we get respect, there will be no deviation otherwise all options are open to us," he told reporters at a joint press conference with the Jan Adhikar Party founder leader Pappu Yadav.
Manjhi said that his party will be compelled to explore other options if the NDA failed to come upto his expectation of number of seats for the HAM (Secular) in the assembly polls due in Bihar in a couple of months' time.
On his equations with the Jan Adhikar Party founder, Manjhi said that the two shared identical views on socio-economic and political issues, besides issues related to deprived sections of the society.
"We have been together on a host of political issues for quite some," the HAM (Secular) leader said about his relations with Pappu Yadav.
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The Jan Adhikar Party founding leader too praised the former chief minister saying he was a bigger leader than the incumbent chief minister Nitish Kumar and the RJD supremo Lalu Prasad.
The Madhepura MP said that the HAM (Secular) leader was any day more powerful than either the JD(U) leader or RJD supremo as he enjoyed the backing of 22 per cent dalit population.
Manjhi's latest political move as well as his subtle hints to go with Pappu Yadav in the event of not getting desired number of seats for the assembly polls may have caused heartburn for the BJP leadership which had recently overcome similar move of muscle flexing by another ally - Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP).