Despite poll result, Nitish keeps Home, most portfolios unchanged

Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad of the BJP was given almost all departments his predecessor Sushil Kumar Modi held: Finance, Commercial Tax and Environment. Although Cabinet expansion may take place at a later stage, the JD(U) and the BJP have shared departments between them. Thus, several ministers from either party will keep additional departments until the Cabinet expansion.

As per new formula, the BJP can have a maximum 21 and JD(U) 14 ministers. The 15-minister Cabinet — seven from BJP, six from JD(U) and one one each from VIP and HAM(S) – took oath on Monday.

The state’s second Deputy CM, BJP’s Renu Devi, was given Industry, Panchayati Raj and OBC and EBC Welfare departments. JD(U) minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary will keep Rural Works, Rural Development, Parliamentary Affairs, besides Water Resources.

BJP’s Mangal Pandey has retained Health Department with additional charge of Art, Culture and Youth Affairs and Road Construction departments, while the party’s Amrendra Pratap Singh is the new Agriculture minister with additional charge of Cooperative and Sugarcane departments.

Another BJP minister, Jiwesh Kumar, was allocated Labour Resources, Tourism and Mines, while his party colleague Rampreet Paswan has Public Health Engineering department.

VIP chief Mukesh Sahani got Animal and Fisheries Resources and HAM(S) leader and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi’s son Santosh Kumar Suman has Minor Water Resources and SC/ ST Welfare departments.

JD(U) veteran Bijendra Prasad Yadav has Prohibition and Excise, Planning and Development and Food and Consumer Protection besides Energy portfolios. His party colleague Ashok Kumar Choudhary retained Building Construction department with additional charge of Science and Technology, Social Welfare and Minority Welfare.

Newly inducted Mewalal got Education another first-time minister, Sheela Kumari from JD(U), is new Tourism minister.