PATNA: The much-awaited state cabinet expansion is likely to take place only after the nomination of 12 netas as MLCs from the governor’s quota, a reliable BJP source said on Sunday, adding both the processes might get completed this week.
Altogether 12 seats from the governor’s quota are lying vacant in the state legislative council. Since some of the new ministers from both BJP and JD(U) may come through that quota, the Nitish Kumar government will not like to face the embarrassment at the hands of the opposition by inducting someone in the ministry, who is not a member of either House.
Education minister Ashok Choudhary is already waiting for a council berth from that quota itself as the two seats vacated by Sushil Kumar Modi and Vinod Narayan Jha of BJP have been filled by Vikassheel Insaan Party chief and minister Mukesh Sahani and Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, the BJP national spokesperson and a strong contender for a plum portfolio in the state cabinet. Shahnawaz, however, is unlikely to be made deputy CM.
Independent MLA from Chakai Sumeet Singh, who has extended his support to the CM and Chainpur MLA Mohammad Zama Khan, who left BSP and joined hands with Nitish’s party may be accommodated from the JD(U) quota as Rajput and Muslim faces, respectively.
Nitish was sworn in with 14 other ministers on November 16 after the assembly election results. Vijay Choudhury, Ashok Choudhary, Mewalal Choudhary, Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Sheela Kumari from JD(U) and Tarkishore Prasad, Renu Devi, Amarendra Pratap Singh, Ram Surat Rai, Rampreet Paswan, Mangal Pandey and Jivesh Kumar Mishra from BJP had taken oath along with Nitish. Mewalal, however, had to resign after the media highlighted a corruption case pending in the court against him.
The JD(U) has four ministers besides Nitish and BJP got 7 ministerial berths. HAM(S) and Vikassheel Insaan Party got one seat each. Given the fact that the state cabinet can have a maximum 36 ministers, including the CM, on the basis of 15% of the House strength of 243 members, there are 22 more ministerial berths up for grabs.
There is also a related issue to be decided regarding JD(U) participation in the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. The central cabinet expansion is likely after the West Bengal assembly elections scheduled to be held in March-April. Since JD(U) had opted not to be part of the central government as it was offered only one berth on the basis of notional representation, BJP had to accommodate Nitish Kumar’s party, which wanted proportionate representation in the ministry. BJP had won 17 out of 40 seats while JD(U) and LJP bagged 16 and six seats, respectively, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
However, the scenario has changed after the 2020 assembly elections as BJP has emerged the big brother in the Bihar NDA with 74 seats compared to 43 of JD(U). “JD(U) is now on the back foot and can’t bargain much,” said a BJP leader, preferring anonymity.
But JD(U) national president R C P Singh on Saturday told his party functionaries that they had been and will remain a decisive force in the state.