PATNA, APRIL 26: Even as the BJP continues to grapple with dissent in the party over the recent Cabinet reshuffle, discontent seems to be brewing in ruling JD(U) too. Ajit Singh, who was dropped from the Cabinet and made vice-president of the party, resigned from his post on Friday. He is the second dropped minister to have quit the party post awarded after the reshuffle.

Though Singh, former Transport Minister, said he had quit the party post to serve his constituency in a better way and was not angry over being dropped from the ministry, the underlying discontent was clear. “I will remain a simple party worker and help our leader Nitish Kumar in realising his dream of building a better Bihar,” he said.

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.