Janata Dal (United) Chief Nitish Kumar on Sunday expanded his cabinet by inducting 8 new ministers in his State Cabinet. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inducted Ashok Chaudhary, Shyam Rajak, Laxmeshwar Prasad, Bhima Bharati, Ram Sevak Singh, Sanjay Jha, Neeraj Kumar, and Narendra Narayan Yadav in his cabinet.
All newly inducted Ministers were administrated oath by the State Governor Lalji Tandon in Raj Bhawan in State’s capital Bhawan.
The move came amidst speculations about a possible rift in between JD-U and Bharatiya Janata Party over ministerial berth in the Narendra Modi Cabinet. However, dismissing all such claims, Lawmaker Shyam Rajak said the National Democratic Alliance is intact in Bihar, and reports about the rift are just rumors.
Ashok Chaudhary, former Congress State Chief also said made similar claims and said that the alliance is intact.
Both JD(U) and BJP are running a coalition government in the state.
Nitish Kumar had on May 30 announced not to be a part of Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet saying that BJP’s offer of one ministerial berth in the cabinet is not acceptable.
When I was told one ministerial berth will be given to JD(U), I said we don’t need it but I’ll ask my party. I asked everyone, they said it’s not appropriate that we show only symbolic participation when we’re together. We’re together, not upset’, Kumar said as quoted by ANI.