Bihar Minister Santosh Suman, who held the portfolio of SC and ST welfare, has resigned from the state cabinet on Tuesday. Suman, the national president of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), founded by his father Jitan Ram Manjhi, a former chief minister, cited “pressure” to merge his party with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) as the reason for his sudden move.
“I have sent my resignation to the chief minister and personally met Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, senior JD(U) leader and minister, to explain my point. I hope my resignation will be accepted. We are, though, not pulling out of the Mahagathbandhan,” Suman informed reporters.
Santosh Suman’s resignation comes as a surprise, as he was an important member of the Bihar cabinet, responsible for the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). His party, HAM, had been a key constituent of the Mahagathbandhan, an alliance of opposition parties in Bihar, along with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress. The Mahagathbandhan had put up a strong fight against the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections.
Suman’s decision to step down was driven by alleged pressure to merge HAM with JD(U), the party led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. While Suman clarified that his party was not withdrawing from the Mahagathbandhan, it remains to be seen how this move will affect the dynamics within the opposition alliance.
The resignation of a minister from the cabinet often indicates dissatisfaction or disagreements within the ruling party or coalition. In this case, Suman’s departure raises questions about the internal dynamics of the Mahagathbandhan and the relationship between HAM and JD(U). The alleged pressure to merge HAM with JD(U) hints at the Chief Minister’s efforts to consolidate his party’s position and broaden its support base.
Santosh Suman’s father, Jitan Ram Manjhi, had also served as the Chief Minister of Bihar from May 2014 to February 2015. Manjhi, a prominent leader from the Mahadalit community, formed HAM after leaving JD(U) following a fallout with Nitish Kumar. The party has since played a significant role in Bihar politics, especially in championing the cause of marginalized communities.
The resignation of Santosh Suman and the subsequent events will likely have repercussions on the political landscape of Bihar. It remains to be seen how the Mahagathbandhan and JD(U) respond to this development and whether efforts will be made to address the concerns raised by Suman. The upcoming days may witness negotiations, discussions, and political maneuvers as the parties involved strategize to maintain their respective positions and alliances.
The resignation of Santosh Suman and the reasons behind it underscore the intricacies and challenges of coalition politics. The dynamics between parties, power struggles, and conflicting interests often shape the course of political developments. In the case of Bihar, this sudden move has disrupted the status quo, and its ripple effects may have far-reaching consequences for the state’s political landscape.
