Post-reshuffle, Nitish under fire as two quit party posts

Of the eight JD(U) ministers dropped during the April 13 Cabinet reshuffle, five were made vice-presidents of the party with the declaration that they would serve the party. Then Singh, among others, had said they were committed party workers and would work towards strengthening the party.

Though it is well known that most of the JD(U) ministers who were dropped or had their departments changed are angry, none of them has so far pointed fingers at their leader, unlike the BJP. However, insiders say sooner or later the discontent is sure to come out in the open.

Last week, Monazir Hassan, who was Building Construction Minister in the previous Cabinet, had quit the post of party vice-president. He had taken a rebellious posture from day one. Now, he is trying to stoke minority sentiments, raising the issue of a Muslim being made Excise Minister that was allegedly against Islam. “Liqour is a taboo in Islam, and here a Muslim has been given charge of a department that deals with alcohol,” say Muslim clerics.