Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will expand his cabinet on Tuesday, an official said. Induction of new members in the state cabinet will take place in the afternoon at Raj Bhavan where they will be administered the oath by Governor Phagu Chauhan.
Leaders like Shahnawaj Hussein, Rana Randhir Singh, Sanjay Singh, Nitin Navin, Neeraj Kumar Babloo, MLC Samrat Chaudhary, Sanjiv Chaurasia, Sanjay Sarawgi, Krishna Kumar Rishi, Bhagirathi Devi, and Pramod Kumar are front runners for ministerial berths, the sources added.
A BJP leader said that there was a consensus in the meeting that all sections of society should get equal representation in the Council of Ministers, and that the party wanted to give both the experienced and young persons ministerial berths.
Meanwhile, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi claimed one more berth in the Cabinet and an MLC seat.
In the 243-member Bihar Assembly, the National Democratic Alliance won 125 seats -- JD-U (43), BJP (74), VIP (4), and HAM (4). Lone BSP MLA Jama Khan and an Independent legislator Sumit Singh recently joined JD-U.
The Cabinet strength can be 36, including the Chief Minister. It has 14 Ministers at present, including 7 from the BJP, 5 from JD-U and one each from Vikasheel Insaan Party and HAM.
