Ask deputy CM, says Nitish Kumar on Bihar cabinet expansion

"Ask the Deputy CM" was Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's response to queries on the possibility of expanding the state cabinet with the Congress, the junior ally in the ruling 'Mahagathbandhan', seeking a few more berths. 

The Congress, which has 19 MLAs in the 243-member state assembly, currently has two ministers in the government formed after Kumar dumped the BJP last August. The Bihar cabinet can have a maximum of 36 beds and five of them are now vacant.

"You people put this question to the Deputy CM," Kumar said when asked by reporters about his views on the speculation about the expansion of the state cabinet and the Congress's demand for two more berths in the Council of Ministers. “Recently, a delegation of Congress leaders met me in this regard. I told them to meet the Deputy CM in this regard. Let them work it out between themselves. Whatever they decide will be considered,” said Kumar, the de facto JD(U) supremo, during his 'Samadhan Yatra' in Jamui district.

The state cabinet now has 29 members with the RJD, which includes Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, enjoying the lion's share even after two of its ministers resigned. Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad recently said that "the CM has said that more ministers will be made from our party". "Everyone knows that Congress has 19 MLAs and four MLCs. The number of legislators from other parties who are in the cabinet is three to four. We can have four ministers. I spoke to the CM about this, and he agreed," Prasad said.

Kumar was also asked about former CM and Hindustani Awam Morcha Jitan Ram Manjhi's plan to start 'Garib Sampark Yatra' from February 12 in the state. "Leaders belonging to any political party are free to launch their own yatra," the CM said.

HAM is an ally of the 'Mahagathbandhan' government in the state.

When asked about RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, who underwent a kidney transplant in Singapore in December 2022 and returned to India tonight, Kumar said, “He (Lalu) is absolutely fine. Coming to Delhi, later he will come to Patna”. Lalu's daughter Rohini Acharya, who donated a kidney to her father, shared an emotional post on Twitter on Friday and said that the RJD chief would leave for India on Saturday.

"It is important to say. This important matter is regarding the health of our leader Lalu ji. Papa is going to India from Singapore on February 11. I am doing my duty as a daughter... I am sending him to you all." Now you all take care of my father,” Acharya tweeted.