Upset with ‘system’, Bihar minister quits; may join AAP

In a letter to Nitish, she cited her “reasons” for her decision.

Upset over the “system”, Bihar Social Welfare Minister Parbeen Amanullah Tuesday resigned amidst speculation of her joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and become its face in Bihar. She also resigned as MLA and quit JD(U).

Amanullah said although she had no complaint against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, she said she had been facing problems in making desired changes in the “system”. She said there were many options open for her. She said she knew Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal very well and worked with him for two years.

Amanullah, wife of IAS officer Afzal Amanullah and daughter of former diplomat Syed Sahabuddin, had joined politics in 2010 after serving as a social activist. She had won from Sahebpur Kamal seat.

In a letter to Nitish, she cited her “reasons” for her decision. “Though I cannot divulge contents of the letter, there had been ideological differences,” she said. Asked if she would join AAP, she said she was exploring her options. “I have worked with Arvind Kejriwal. But I have not taken call on my next move yet,” she said.

Though she denied any “tiff” with bureaucracy, top sources said Nitish had been unhappy with her “frequent request to change secretary of social welfare department”. Ever since she joined, she reportedly got shifted four department secretaries and wrote to CM against the present secretary, said a source, adding that the CM put his foot down this time.

It is also learnt that she had been nursing ambition to become an MP. “With the party not in a mood to field her, she might have decided to leave JD(U) to become AAP’s Bihar face,” said another source.

AAP’s Bihar media in-charge AN Singh told The Indian Express: “I have no information on her joining AAP. It is totally her call. Our party will induct any leader with clean image.”

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