Protests over ministers selection in Jitan Ram Manjhi's cabinet gets shriller in Bihar

PATNA: After JDU’s’s poor showing in the Lok Sabha elections, party leader and former chief minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, is grappling with new problem: dissent within the party. Some senior party members, who were not inducted in Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Cabinet, have started showing signs of revolt.

For instance, Gyanendra Singh Gyanu, the JD(U) MLA from Barh, has gone public with his criticism, choosing to attack leaders said to be close to Kumar.

Gyanu has voiced his displeasure in a letter to the JD(U) national president. "It is strange that Lallan Singh, who had worked for the Congress in the last Assembly elections sparing no effort to defeat the JD(U), was made the party nominee from Munger Lok Sabha seat, which he lost. Recently, he was nominated to Vidhan Parishad and now he has been made the cabinet minister of a key portfolio. I, therefore, recommend you to expel him from the party, besides sacking him from the ministry," Gyanu said in his letter.

Gyanu added that he is entitled to make such recommendations by virtue of being the convener of the JD(U) disciplinary committee. "Earlier too, Lallan Singh had been suspended from the party on my recommendation," he said.