By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: After parting ways with the Grand Alliance, Nitish Kumar rejoined the NDA earlier this year, forming a new government in January with the BJP and other allies. Following the initial cabinet expansion in March, there is now speculation about a second expansion of Nitish Kumar’s cabinet.
With 243 members in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, four seats remain vacant. Based on the current membership, Bihar can have up to 36 ministers. At present, there are 30 ministers in Nitish Kumar’s cabinet, leaving room for six new appointments. BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal has hinted at an imminent cabinet expansion, stirring speculation about potential new faces.
Jaiswal recently met JDU state president Umesh Kushwaha, and after the meeting, he confirmed that preparations for the cabinet expansion were complete, with the list of new ministers ready. While cabinet expansion has been a topic of discussion for the past month, Jaiswal’s remarks have further fuelled expectations of the announcement happening soon. However, Kushwaha has remained tight-lipped on the matter.
“The cabinet can be expanded at any time. The list is ready,” Jaiswal stated.
Political experts believe that BJP has several contenders for ministerial positions in the upcoming expansion. Nitish Kumar is expected to make decisions based on recommendations from the BJP, with a keen eye on the 2025 assembly elections.
As the largest party in the Bihar NDA, the BJP is likely to secure three to four ministerial positions, while the JDU may receive one or two posts. There is also speculation that the Pashupati Paras faction, which was sidelined in the Lok Sabha elections, may receive a ministerial position following Paras’ meetings with BJP leaders, including Amit Shah.
The expansion is also viewed as a strategy to satisfy various factions ahead of the 2025 assembly elections. BJP may prioritise regional representation and caste-based appointments, with discussions of including leaders from the Vaishya and Kushwaha communities. JDU may consider appointing Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha, who was recently made an MLC, to a ministerial post.
In addition to the appointment of new ministers, there is talk of reshuffling existing portfolios. Maheshwar Hazari, who currently holds the Information and Public Relations portfolio, may see a change in his department. Other ministers, including Mangal Pandey and Vijay Kumar Sinha, who manage multiple departments, could see their portfolios reduced to accommodate new ministers.
The cabinet reshuffle is not only about the inclusion of new ministers but may also involve the restructuring of commissions, boards, and corporations. Nitish Kumar is waiting for the BJP to submit its list of candidates, after which the final decisions will be made. Along with the cabinet expansion, around 20 commissions, boards, and corporations are expected to be restructured this month.
As the NDA coalition waits for the official announcement, the political landscape of Bihar is set for another significant shift, with both the BJP and JDU aiming to strengthen their positions ahead of the next elections.
