Bihar social welfare minister Madan Sahni on Thursday said he would resign in protest against alleged corruption and high-handedness of the bureaucracy under the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

Sahni asserted that it would be better to leave his post than to suffer humiliation at the hands of senior officers and for not being able to properly serve the people. He also demanded a probe into the assets of a senior IAS officer considered close to the chief minister.

“I have decided to resign from my post to protest against undue interference and high-handedness of the bureaucracy. I am not satisfied with the residence or vehicle allotted to me. These obstruct my efforts to serve the people. If officers do not listen to me, then the work of the people suffer and if their work cannot be done then there is no need for me to remain a minister,” Sahni told reporters in Patna.

Sahni, an MLA from Bahadurpur in Darbhanga district, said he would remain in the Janata Dal United even after resigning from his post.

He alleged that he was not consulted for the transfer and posting of officers in his department. “An IAS officer close to Nitish Kumar made a lot of money in the transfer and posting of officials. His assets should be investigated,” he alleged.

Hundreds of officers in different departments have been transferred in the state over the last couple of days. Sources said the transfers were done after Nitish’s nod, but Sahni was aggrieved that he was not taken into confidence.