Bihar: Whirligig of Ministry-Making

Ramanand Tiwari

NK SINGH

Bihar is in the cesspool of instability. It has seen six ministries in three years.

The first non-Congress United Front Government headed by Mahamaya Prasad Sinha fell due to defection. A Shoshit Dal ministry was formed under the leadership of Satish Sinha for four days only – just to induct the Mandal Government in through the backdoor.

 The fourth ministry came to power under the leadership of Bhola Paswan Shastri as a result of floor-crossing by some important Congressmen. Shastri resigned on June 26, 1968 following difference with the Raja of Ramgarh, Kamakhya Narain Singh.

President’s rule was imposed on June 20, 1968, which ended on February 25, 1969 after the mid-term poll. But the results were neither in favour of the Congress nor non-Congress parties. The Congress-led coalition of Swatantra, the Janata Party, the Shoshit Dal and the Jharkhand party fell like a house of cards on June 20, 1969.

Then Shastri of Lok Tantrik Congress managed to form a Samyukta Vidhayak Dal (SVD) which was joined by Jharkhand, Shoshit, a group of BKD etc. The SSP, the PSP, the Jana Sangh and the CPI supported it from outside. But that government too fell and President’s rule was imposed.

Three parties – the Indira Congress, the Syndicate Congress and the SSP – have started flexing their muscles and approached the Governor claiming that only they can provide a stable government.

A four party SVD has been forged, consisting of the Syndicate, the Jana Sangh, the Swatantra and the SSP. As a bonus for joining the rightist alliance, Ramanand Tiwari of SSP was gifted the leadership of the SVD.

Excerpts from Now 13 February 1970