Five JD(U) MLAs expressed resentment over Cabinet expansion in Bihar

As many as five Janata Dal (United) MLAs have expressed resentment over missing out on ministerial berths as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expanded his new cabinet on Tuesday by inducting 31 new ministers, including a huge contingent of 16 from key ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

Parbatta MLA Dr Sanjeev Kumar, Runnisaidpur Pankaj Kumar Mishra, Barbigha MLA Sudarshan Kumar and Matihani MLA Rajkumar Singh and Kesaria MLA Shalini Mishra skipped the ceremony held at Raj Bhavan. Incidentally, all these MLAs belong to the Bhumihar caste.

All five have expressed displeasure over not being



inducted into the cabinet.

Of the council of ministers, 11 are from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), two from Congress and one from ex-CM Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM, besides an Independent.

Three of the ministers are women Sheela Kumari and Leshi Singh (both JDU) and Anita Devi (RJD).

There are altogether seven Yadavs from the RJD, including the two sons of Lalu Prasad, besides Bijendra Yadav of the JD(U).

Others from the populous caste group in Bihar include Lalit Yadav, Surendra Prasad, Chandrashekhar, Ramanand Yadav and Jitendra Kumar Rai.