Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, June 19: Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) formed by the former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s on Monday announced withdrawal of its support to the Nitish Kumar government.
Manjhi’s son Santosh Suman, the party’s national president, said an appointment has been sought with Governor Rajendra Arlekar for handing over the letter of withdrawal of support.
Suman, who had resigned from the Nitish Kumar cabinet last week alleging pressure from the JD(U) to merge his party, said the national executive body of HAM “authorised” him to take a decision on future course of action.
While there has been no official confirmation of its future plans, HAM has indicated that it is “willing to consider” an invitation from the BJP-led coalition. Santhosh Suman Manjhi however ducked questions about an unconfirmed meeting with BJP president JP Nadda on Monday.
Suman said he would visit Delhi soon to “explore options” and he is “willing to consider” an invitation from the NDA if the same is extended by the BJP-led coalition. “We are also keeping the option open for setting up a third front”, said the HAM president whose party has switched allies many times since it was founded eight years ago.
The HAM with four MLAs had joined the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ last year, in solidarity with Nitish Kumar’s move of dumping the BJP which was accused of trying to break the JD(U).
Its withdrawal of support, however, will be no threat to the stability of the Mahagathbandhan ministry which has support of over 160 MLAs in the House of 243. The ruling coalition comprises JD(U), RJD and Congress besides three Left parties which are supporting the government from outside.
Suman had lately been hobnobbing with the saffron party and his resignation from the cabinet was a clear indication of his party’s growing distance with the Mahagathbandhan. Manjhi was unhappy after he was not issued an invitation to attend the opposition meet on June 23.
