Nitish Kumar Set to Expand Bihar Cabinet Ahead of Elections

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is gearing up for a cabinet expansion before the upcoming state legislative assembly elections. According to sources cited by India Today, the expansion is expected to take place before the budget session, with five to seven new faces likely to be inducted into the cabinet.

BJP’s Dilip Jaiswal Resigns Ahead of Cabinet Expansion

In a significant political move, Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal announced his resignation from Nitish Kumar’s cabinet on Wednesday. Jaiswal, who held the position of Revenue Minister, cited the party’s ‘one person, one post’ principle as the reason for stepping down.

“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,” Jaiswal stated, as reported by ANI.

Sources suggest that with the Bihar elections approaching, the BJP leadership wants Jaiswal to focus entirely on his new role as the state BJP chief.

Cabinet Expansion Discussions Between JP Nadda and Nitish Kumar

The upcoming cabinet expansion has been under discussion for some time. Union Minister JP Nadda and Nitish Kumar recently held a meeting to finalize the expansion, after previous discussions failed to yield results. The induction of new ministers is aimed at strengthening the government ahead of the crucial state elections.

Who is Likely to Get a Cabinet Berth?

As per a report by News18 Hindi, the MLAs expected to be inducted into the Bihar cabinet include:

Sanjay Sarawagi
Raju Singh
Awadhesh Patel
Jeevesh Mishra or Anil Sharma
Tar Kishore Prasad or Pawan Jaiswal

With the current strength of the cabinet at 30, including 15 BJP ministers, 13 JD(U) ministers, one from Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), and one Independent, there is room for expansion. The Bihar cabinet can constitutionally accommodate up to 36 ministers, leaving six vacant seats to be filled.

Significance of the Cabinet Expansion

The timing of this expansion is crucial, as it comes just two days before the Bihar Budget Session, which begins on Friday. With elections approaching, the strategic inclusion of new ministers could help Nitish Kumar and the ruling alliance strengthen their political positioning in the state. The expansion will not only bring new faces into governance but also play a key role in shaping the political dynamics of Bihar ahead of the crucial polls.

Conclusion

As Bihar braces for legislative assembly elections, the cabinet expansion signals strategic political realignment. The move is expected to bolster the state government’s efficiency and reflect the ruling coalition’s electoral priorities. With six vacant positions and key party discussions ongoing, all eyes are now on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s final decision on the new ministers who will be inducted into his cabinet.

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