Senior Bihar minister Ramai Ram miffed at not becoming Dy CM

Patna: While all ministers of Nitish Kumar Cabinet took charge of their portfolios, a senior minister Ramai Ram, miffed at not getting the post of Deputy Chief Minister, reluctantly joined work in Transport Ministry on Tuesday and announced that he would take some "decision" after confidence vote.

Ramai Ram retains the Transport Ministry he was holding in Jitan Ram Manjhi Cabinet. He ranks fourth in the ministry after CM and two other ministers Vijay Chaudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav. His heirarchy was sixth in Manjhi ministry, including the then CM.

"I have joined work with heavy heart. I will take some decision after the government seeks confidence vote," Ram, a veteran dalit leader, told PTI.

Ram, who was in the state capital, desisted from assuming charge of his ministry along with the other ministers yesterday, to show his dissatisfaction.

Ram, an eight-time MLA from Bochahan in Muzaffarpur district, said he was promised Deputy Chief Minister post which was not fullfilled.

The Transport Minister said that he has conveyed his feeling to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Asked about his department, Ram said "there is not much work in this department which I wish to do for the poor section of the society."

Ram who remained unbeaten at Bochachan (SC seat) since 1980 was earlier in Janata Party, Lok Dal and RJD before switching sides to JD(U) in 2010.