In a major political development ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, the state cabinet is set for an expansion today at 4 PM, with the BJP inducting five new faces, sources told India Today. The move comes after Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal announced his decision to resign as Revenue Minister, citing the party’s "one person, one post" principle.
"I am going to resign from the post of Revenue Minister. The cabinet expansion is the prerogative of the Chief Minister," Jaiswal told ANI before meeting CM Nitish Kumar to formally submit his resignation.
According to India Today sources, BJP MLAs Tarkishore Prasad, Sanjay Saraogi, Raju Yadav, and Awadhesh Patel are likely to be inducted, while Nitish Kumar will take a final call on adding new JD(U) faces.
The Bihar Budget Session is set to begin in two days, making this cabinet expansion a crucial strategic move. The current cabinet strength is 30, with six vacant seats. Many BJP ministers currently handle multiple portfolios, fueling the need for fresh appointments.
Sources of India Today revealed that Union Minister JP Nadda and CM Nitish Kumar recently held discussions over the cabinet reshuffle. However, the final list will only be approved after clearance from the central BJP leadership.
