Nitish Kumar Took Oath As Bihar Chief Minister; Lalu’s Sons In Government

A rejuvenated Lalu Prasad’s grip over this government came to the fore when his two sons, both political rookies, took oath immediately after the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Union Ministers Venkaiah Naidu and Rajiv Pratap Rudy are representing the central govt. Chief ministers from various states and leaders of regional political parties were present at the function.

Former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit arrives for Nitish Kumar’s oath taking ceremony at Gandhi Maidan in Patna.

Tejashwi directly targeted the people who consider him incapable of the post and said, “I have two chief ministers in my family and I have seen how government’s work”.

The RJD chieftain did not ensure or persuade Nitish Kumar to appoint more women as ministers – 22 women have been elected to the Assembly – but focused on getting his sons into the ministry.

The way Lalu favoured his sons as far as setting up the hierarchy within the government is concerned, has not gone down well with the senior leaders of the RJD if reports emanating from Patna are any indication. After the Nitish-Lalu alliance was sealed, Tejaswi went and touched Nitish Kumar’s feet, as he did at the swearing-in ceremony.

RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui has got the finance portfolio while JD-U leader Vijayander Yadav has been given the Energy Department.

The seasoned politician has picked meaty portfolios – PWD and roads for Tejashwi and health for Tej Pratap.

Seven more ministers can be accommodated in the cabinet as under the constitutional provision a maximum of 15 per cent ministers of the total strength of the house is allowed.

Asked if Nitish Kumar gave any specific direction to him, Tejaswi Yadav said today’s Cabinet meet was to convene the Assembly session. Mr Nitish Kumar has to also maintain a fine balance between industrialisation and agriculture, so that Bihar does not lag behind in attracting big-time investors.

The chief ministers are Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi), Tarun Gogoi (Assam), P.K. Chamling (Sikkim), O. Ibobi Singh (Manipur), Nabam Tuki (Arunachal Pradesh), Virbhadra Singh (Himachal Pradesh), and S. Siddaramaiah (Karnataka).

State Congress president Ashok Choudhary has been allotted human resources department while his party colleague Madan Mohan Jha has been alloted revenue portfolio.