Former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s son, Santosh Suman, on Tuesday give up the state cupboard to guard his Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S) from “extinction”, amid a proposal to merge it with the Janata Dal (United).
Suman, who held the SC and ST welfare portfolio and is nationwide president of HAM-S, mentioned he tendered his resignation as he was not able to “sacrifice his occasion”. He additionally mentioned that he took the choice after holding talks with a number of occasion leaders over the past 10 days.
HAM-S is a part of the Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance in Bihar. The Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and the Left are additionally a part of the alliance.
The RJD, nonetheless, mentioned there was “no stress” on HAM to comply with the merger. The occasion additionally claimed that Suman, in a letter, expressed his incapacity to proceed with the alliance.
Suman’s resignation was accepted and a notification to this impact was issued by the cupboard secretariat later within the day. In accordance with folks conscious of the developments, JD(U) MLA Ratnesh Sada is prone to substitute Suman.
Chatting with reporters on his resignation, Suman mentioned: “There was no choice left for us because the JD(U) wished HAM to merge with it. It was not acceptable as we couldn’t sacrifice our occasion. That is why I give up.”
He added: “I’ve despatched my resignation to the chief minister (Nitish Kumar) and personally met Vijay Kumar Chaudhary (senior JD-U) chief and finance minister) to clarify my level. I hope my resignation shall be accepted.”
Requested if HAM(S) would proceed to be part of the Grand Alliance, Suman mentioned: “It’s for events just like the RJD and the JD(U) to determine. We need to proceed with the alliance. In view of JD(U)’s proposal, I needed to take a choice to save lots of my occasion from extinction. HAM is a celebration and we can’t settle for its dilution.”
The Grand Alliance has 164 MLAs within the 243-seat Bihar meeting. Whereas Suman is a member of the legislative council, HAM has a complete of 4 MLAs within the meeting.
Suman’s resignation got here days earlier than a much-anticipated technique assembly of Opposition events for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, in Patna on June 23. Chief minister Kumar has already spoken and met various Opposition leaders in current months to attempt to deliver them collectively on a standard platform.
Amid speculations that he may be a part of the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP), Suman mentioned nothing has been determined as of but. “My father had categorically mentioned that he would stay with Nitish Kumar, however this by no means meant we must always merge our occasion and finish its existence. The proposal was such that we had been left with no alternative. The longer term technique shall be made after holding talks with occasion leaders,” he mentioned.
Suman’s resignation was accepted later within the day. “In accordance with the provisions laid down below Article 164-1 of the Structure, Dr Santosh Kumar Suman isn’t a minister and a member of the cupboard with instant impact,” mentioned the cupboard secretariat notification signed by chief secretary Amit Subhani and issued by the order of the Governor.
RJD MLA Bhai Birendra, nonetheless, mentioned there was “no stress” on HAM to agree with the merger. “There was no stress on HAM for the merger. I’ll request Jitan Ram Manjhi to rethink his choice because it was time to unite in opposition to the Narendra Modi-led BJP authorities on the Centre,” he mentioned.
Quickly after Suman’s resignation, a number of senior JD(U) leaders, together with occasion president Rajiv Ranjan, alias, Lalan Singh and finance minister Chaudhary arrived on the chief minister’s residence for a dialogue on the matter. Deputy chief minister and RJD chief Tejashwi Prasad Yadav was additionally current.
Singh mentioned Suman had resigned citing private causes. “He has additionally written a letter as HAM-S president that resulting from private causes, it was troublesome for him to proceed with the Grand Alliance. We see it as his choice to not be a part of the GA…,” he mentioned.
Suman didn’t particularly reply to a question on whether or not HAM-S had determined to give up the alliance, however mentioned: “In the event that they don’t need HAM-S within the alliance, we are going to search for different choices. We aren’t on the mercy of anybody. We are going to work to strengthen our organisation. The actual fact that I needed to resign to save lots of my occasion and reject the provide of a merger with JD(U) was a sign sufficient that there was no room for compatibility.”
The BJP questioned the proposal to merge HAM with JD(U).
“Any self-respecting chief would have completed the identical. How can one merge one’s occasion with one other? That is what Nitish Kumar is as much as and Manjhi has uncovered it together with his brave transfer (by way of his son’s resignation),” former BJP MP and current MLC Janak Ram mentioned.
Social analyst NK Choudhary mentioned: “Within the election 12 months, all events flex their muscle tissue. The larger events know who to accommodate and the way far to accommodate. Manjhi will not be an enormous participant, however at a time when Nitish Kumar is striving for opposition unity throughout the nation, a setback on the house turf wouldn’t go down properly for him. Manjhi is a shrewd politician and he desires to ship a message throughout that he can do it.”
In the meantime, Sada was summoned to the chief minister’s residence within the night. In accordance with folks conscious of the matter, he’s prone to substitute Suman as SC and ST welfare minister.
“I obtained calls from ministers Vijay Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, asking me to succeed in Patna. So, I’ve come right here. I don’t know something past this. Who ought to be a minister (of SC/ST welfare) is the prerogative of the federal government,” Sada mentioned.
The cupboard growth in Bihar is due ever since two RJD ministers, Kartikey Kumar and Sudhakar Singh, give up. The state authorities at the moment has 28 ministers and may have as much as 36 ministers.