Will resign today, says Bihar social welfare minister Madan Sahni

PATNA: State social welfare department minister Madan Sahni on Friday said that he would submit his resignation to CM Nitish Kumar on Saturday as a mark of protest against “high-handedness” of the state’s bureaucracy.
“Right now, I am at my native place in Darbhanga. I will submit my resignation to the CM soon after reaching Patna on Saturday,” he told this newspaper over the phone.Sahni is a JD(U) MLA from Bahadurpur assembly constituency in Darbhanga district.
Meanwhile, apart from opposition leaders, several JD(U) netas have also admitted that Sahni was right to speak his mind on the issue. “What Sahniji has said is absolutely true,” a senior JD(U) leader said on condition of anonymity.
HAM(S) chief and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi too supported Sahni. “I am sorry to say that most officials of the government departments in the state are not listening to the people’s representatives,” he said. The HAM(S) is an ally of the ruling NDA in the state. Earlier, two BJP MLAs — Gyanendra Gyanu and Haribhushan Thakur — had alleged that money changed hands in the recent transfer and posting of the officials.
Thakur said the MLAs have been reduced to the status of peons by the babus in the state.
An officer of the social welfare department said the minister had recommended transfer of 134 child development project officers in June, but it was put on hold. Sources said delay in clearance of file related to transfer and posting may have angered Sahni.
State labour resources department minister Jibesh Kumar said, “Although I don't know why Sahniji has offered to resign, there should be proper coordination between the ministers and officers.”