Patna, November 19
Bihar’s Education Minister Mewa Lal Chaudhary, whose appointment to the post had sparked controversy over a taint of corruption, submitted her resignation on Thursday, just three days after being sworn in as a member of Nitish Kumar’s cabinet.
Chaudhary, who was assigned the portfolio on Tuesday, a day after taking the oath, submitted his resignation immediately after taking office at 1 p.m., informed sources said.
Chaudhary, who belongs to the JD (U) headed by the prime minister, had been indicted in a five-year case related to alleged irregularities in the appointment of professors and technicians at Bihar Agricultural University, Bhagalpur, where he was Vice Chancellor.
He tendered his resignation after a meeting with the chief minister, Nitish Kumar.
A statement from Raj Bhavan later said that Chaudhary’s resignation was accepted on the recommendation of the prime minister.
Building Construction Minister Ashok Chaudhary, also from JD (U), received an additional post from the Education Ministry, he said.
Shortly after Chaudhary’s resignation, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav attacked the prime minister for bringing a “corrupt” person into his cabinet.
“You deliberately made a corrupt person a minister and, despite criticism, you made him take office, before enacting this resignation drama. You are the culprit, ”he said in a series of tweets. – PTI
