BJP MLA Alleges Exclusion by Nitish Kumar: She alleges that her name was dropped as a Minister in the Bihar Cabinet at the behest of Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar, a four-time BJP MLA.
After 46 days since the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) formed the government in Bihar, Mr. Kumar expanded his Cabinet on March 15, inducting nine members from his party JD(U) and 12 members from the ruling ally BJP.
BJP MLA Alleges Exclusion by Nitish Kumar: An omission at the last minute
“I had received a call from the party office in the morning around 10.30 a.m. and was asked to be there at Raj Bhavan. However, at the eleventh hour my name was dropped on the instruction of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. My name was approved by the top leaders and only one person was capable enough to drop my name. He is none other than Nitish Kumar,” Ms. Devi told The Hindu over phone on Tuesday.
Even before the formal announcement at her native place, her supporters were celebrating her arrival as a Cabinet Minister in Warisaliganj Assembly constituency of Nawada district.
As for the BJP, six new faces have been inducted in the Cabinet, in addition to three women legislators – Sheela Manda and Leshi Singh of the JD(U) and Renu Devi of the BJP.
Asked about what could be the possible reason for dropping her name, Ms. Devi said: “I really don’t know why he has done so. On one hand, he expressed sympathy towards the women by giving them reservation in the panchayat and police but on the other hand, he snatched the opportunity from a woman to become a minister.”
“If there are three women ministers, what wrong could it have made to him if a fourth woman would have become minister? This is complete injustice done to me.”
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According to Ms. Devi, her constituency is home to more than one lakh members of the Bhumihar caste. The popularity of her leader comes from her husband, Akhilesh Singh, who is a feared gangster and is accused of killing ten people in the 2004 Nawada massacre.
In 2009, Mr. Singh was charged with 27 cases, including murder, attempt of murder, and extortion, when he contested the Lok Sabha election.
In the future, people will decide her fate, Ms. Devi said, adding that Mr. Kumar made a mistake by dropping her name from the Cabinet induction list.
