Bihar: After CM Nitish Kumar's 'Spying' Allegation, Jitan Manjhi's HAM Formally Severs Ties With JD(U)

Jitan Ram Manjhi's son Santosh Suman announced that his party HAM has decided to withdraw support to Nitish Kumar led Bihar government.

Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM announces quitting Nitish government in Bihar

Source : PTI File Photo

Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha on Monday announced that it is going to withdraw its support from the Nitish Kumar led government. “We will submit our letter of withdrawal of support to Nitish Kumar government to the Governor this evening,” said Santosh Suman, Manjhi’s son who recently resigned from the Nitish cabinet alleging merger proposal. Paty’s decision was announced by Suman during a press conference in Patna after the national executive body of HAM "authorised" him to take a decision on future course of action.

He said that he will visit Delhi later on Monday to "explore options" saying 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.

#WATCH | "We will submit our letter of withdrawal of support to the Bihar government to the Governor. We have sought time from the Governor today evening," says Santosh Suman, President, Hindustani Awam Morcha. pic.twitter.com/4FdqlbBAgE

— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2023

Suman had resigned from the cabinet last week accusing that Janata Dal (United) offered to merge HAM with JD(U). 

Talking to media persons on Friday, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said "I asked them to either merge the party or part ways (from the mahagathbandhan). They decided to quit the alliance. Had they been in the 'mahagathbandhan' and attended the June 23 meeting, they would have told everything that will be discussed there to the BJP."

The HAM, which had 4 MLAs in the grand alliance, had quit the cabinet just days ahead of a crucial meeting of the Opposition leaders scheduled for June 23. 

A day after Suman's resignation, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar accused Manjhi of "spying on Mahagathbandhan allies" for the benefit of the BJP and considered his departure a good riddance.