New Delhi: After Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met with BJP National President JP Nadda, a meeting of the BJP core committee was also held to discuss the names of potential ministers in the state Cabinet. The expansion of the Nitish Cabinet was delayed due to the Delhi assembly elections, the Chief Minister’s ‘Pragati Yatra’, and the Prime Minister’s France and US visit. However, it is expected to take place on February 27 now, sources said.
Currently, there are a total of 30 ministers in the Bihar government, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and two Deputy Chief Ministers. Given the structure of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, the Cabinet can have a maximum of 36 ministers, which means there are still six vacancies that can be filled by new ministers.
Discussion on appointing five BJP legislators as ministers
There is ongoing discussion about appointing five BJP legislators as ministers, sources said. Besides, one or two individuals may be removed from the Cabinet. Portfolios of some Ministers are also expected to be rejigged, they added.
According to party leaders, the 30-member Bihar Cabinet currently includes 15 ministers from the BJP, including two Deputy Chief Ministers. Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Dr Dilip Jayaswal, who is also the BJP’s state president, may resign from his ministerial position. Among the names discussed by the party, Nawal Kishore Yadav could be made a minister. Either Jeevesh Kumar or Anil Sharma could be appointed, and a woman from the reserved quota, Kavita Devi, might also be made a minister.
It was on March 15, 2024 that the NDA government last expanded its Cabinet, while inducting 21 ministers — nine from Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and 12 from its ally, the BJP. This expansion took place 46 days after Nitish Kumar rejoined the BJP on January 28, 2024, after he split from the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance), of which the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) was a part. This marked his fifth political U-turn in the last decade.
