NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

All Congress members get portfolios in Bihar

Altogether 80 ministers were inducted into the Rabri Devi government in Bihar today, with all the newly-elected Congress members getting berths. With this, the total strength rose to 82.

State Governor Vinod Chandra Pande administered the oath of office and secrecy to the ministers at Raj Bhavan. The two-tier state ministry comprises 40 ministers of cabinet rank, and 41 ministers of state.

Earlier, on March 12, Ramchandra Purve was inducted as a cabinet minister and later given the state parliamentary affairs portfolio.

All the 22 Congress members of the state assembly were inducted into the ministry, with 10 getting cabinet berths and the remaining 12 being made ministers of state. However, ministers of state Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu and Abdul Jalil Mastan (both Congress) were absent. Independent member Joba Manjhi was also not present to take the oath.

Six independents and two members of the Krantikari Communist Party members, were also given berths in the ministry.

Chief Minister Rabri Devi told reporters after the ceremony that the portfolios would be distributed to the ministers within a day or two after discussions with respective party leaders.

She said Bahujan Samaj Party members would also be inducted into the council of ministers after consultation with BSP president Kanshi Ram, who will arrive in Patna in a day or two.

RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav said steps would be taken to give proper attention to important departments like the industry, welfare and education.

A co-ordination committee would be set up soon to monitor the functioning of the government; technocrats too would be appointed to deal with the concerned subject properly. He said a common minimum programme had been chalked out after discussions with the coalition partners to ensure the smooth running of the government.

Yadav said there was no resentment in the RJD over the lack of representation in the cabinet, saying, "Everyone has to sacrifice in a coalition government."

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report