Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, June 21
Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) headed by the former Chief Minister of Bihar Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Earlier, Vikashshil Insaan Party of former Minister Mukesh Sahni and Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal of the former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha had also joined NDA deserting Grand Alliance led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Manjhi met the Union home Minister, Amit Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday afternoon and agreed to join NDA. Last week, his son Santosh Kumar Manjhi, resigned from the Nitish cabinet.
HAM legislators met the Governor, Rajendra Alekar and informed their decision to withdraw support to Grand Alliance. having JDU, RJD, Congress and three Left parties in the alliance formation.
HAM has four MLAs in the state assembly. The party was launched formally on May 8, 2015 by former Chief Minister of Bihar, Jitan Ram Manjhi, who left the Janata Dal (United) along with 18 others to form the party following the 2015 Bihar political crisis.
The name of the party was later changed to Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (HAM-S). In July 2015, the Election Commission recognised the HAM-S as a political party. The election symbol of the party is a Wok.