1 month ago
Last Updated:February 26, 2025, 17:52 IST
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday inducted seven new faces, all from alliance partner BJP, into his council of ministers
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and BJP state President Dilip Jaisawal. (ANI)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday inducted seven new faces, all from alliance partner BJP, into his council of ministers, raising the total number to 36, the maximum permissible in the state with a 243-strong assembly.
Meanwhile, Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal on Wednesday announced to resign from the Nitish Kumar cabinet. He was holding the department of Land Revenue.
“I am going to resign from the post of Revenue Minister. ‘One person, one post’ is the principle on which the party works. I am thankful that the central leadership has given me the responsibility of the party’s state unit. Cabinet expansion is the prerogative of the Chief Minister," news agency ANI quoted Jaiswal as saying.
#WATCH | Patna | Bihar minister and BJP’s state President Dilip Jaiswal says, “I am going to resign from the post of Revenue Minister. ‘One person, one post’ is the principle on which the party works. I am thankful that the central leadership has given me the responsibility of… pic.twitter.com/6H9jaZAhlo— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2025
As per the sources, with Bihar election not very far, party leadership wanted Jaiswal to focus on his role as BJP state chief.
HAM(S) leader Santosh Kumar Suman said that he received an informal invite from cabinet minister Mangal Pandey and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to reach Raj Bhavan at 4 pm.
“I received calls from Health Minister Mangal Pandey and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary who invited me to Raj Bhavan. I have not received any official phone call or letter from the Raj Bhavan about the cabinet expansion but I will go there at 4 p.m. today," Suman said as quoted by news agency IANS.
Earlier, Union Minister JP Nadda and Nitish Kumar held a meeting on the expected Cabinet expansion after earlier talks on the matter did not come to fruition.
Who Can Get The Cabinet Berth?
According to News18 Hindi, the MLAs who are likely to become ministers include Sanjay Sarawagi, Raju Singh, Awadhesh Patel, Jeevesh Mishra or Anil Sharma, Tar Kishore Prasad or Pawan Jaiswal.
With BJP leaders actively coordinating with the party’s state in-charge Vinod Tawde, the cabinet expansion is expected to bolster NDA’s caste balance ahead of the 2025 Assembly polls.
The current strength of the Cabinet is 30, with 15 BJP ministers, 13 JD(U), one from the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and an Independent. Six seats remain vacant.
The cabinet can constitutionally accommodate up to 36 ministers, leaving room for the inclusion of new members.
The expansion comes two days before the commencement of the Bihar Budget Session on Friday.
Location : First Published:February 26, 2025, 11:18 IST
News politics Bihar Gets 7 New Ministers As Nitish Kumar Expands Cabinet Ahead Of Assembly Polls
