Jitan Manjhi's son resigns from Nitish cabinet alleging pressure to merge HAM with JD(U)

In a sudden move, Bihar minister Santosh Suman resigned from the state cabinet on Tuesday alleging "pressure" to merge his Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U).Suman, who held the SC and ST welfare portfolio, is the national president of HAM founded by his father Jitan Ram Manjhi, a former chief minister."I have sent my resignation to the chief minister and personally met Vijay Kumar Chaudhary (senior JD(U) leader and minister) to explain my point. I hope my resignation will be accepted. We are, though, not pulling out of the Mahagathbandhan," Suman told reporters.He pointed out that his father, who then headed the party, had decided to quit the NDA last year and join the Mahagathbandhan because of his loyalty towards the chief minister.