Janata Dal (United) leader Uday Narayan Chaudhary on Wednesday quit Bihar’s ruling party. Chaudhary said he was resigning over the state’s failure to curb atrocities against the Dalit community.

Chaudhary claimed that the state government, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, was being manipulated by the Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre, which he alleged was anti-Dalit. “I am hurt over the Nitish Kumar and National Democratic Alliance government’s anti-Dalit approach,” Chaudhary told News18.

The former speaker of the state’s Assembly said he had discussed his concerns with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, but his suggestions were not taken seriously. Chaudhary cited the molestation of a minor girl in Jehanabad and reports of rapes in the state as an example of the government’s failure.

Narayan was the Dalit face of the party and had served as speaker of the Bihar Assembly. Chaudhary participated in an event hosted by former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha and attended by Rashtriya Janata Dal leaders on April 21.