Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday held a series of meetings with NDA leaders in Delhi, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, indicating that a cabinet expansion may take place soon. The CM reached the national capital on Saturday evening after meeting his predecessor and JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar. This was Samrat's second visit to Delhi after taking oath as chief minister.
Meeting with Amit Shah
“Met with the country's illustrious home and cooperation minister Amit Shah ji and received guidance on various topics related to security, good governance, and the overall development of Bihar,” Samrat said in a social media post after meeting Amit. The meeting is believed to have focused, among other issues, on the pending cabinet expansion, which has not taken place since the new government assumed office last month. At present, the government is being run by the CM and his two deputies, Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav.
Multiple Meetings Throughout the Day
Samrat held multiple meetings through the day. He met Rajnath Singh, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, BJP's Bihar in-charge Vinod Tawde, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Union Minister JP Nadda. He also met NDA allies, including JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh and HAM(S) patron Jitan Ram Manjhi, reflecting efforts to balance political equations in the state. Sources said discussions on potential inductions into the Cabinet are in the final stages.
Meeting with Lal Krishna Advani
Samrat also met senior BJP leader and former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani and sought his blessings. “We were fortunate to have the privilege of a courtesy meeting at the residence of the organisational and ideological stalwart… I pray to God for his long life and good health,” he said, adding that Advani's “affection, blessings, and guidance… are a continuous source of energy, inspiration, and firm resolve for all of us”.
The series of meetings indicates that the Bihar cabinet expansion is imminent, with the CM consulting top NDA leaders to finalize the list of ministers. The expansion is expected to strengthen the coalition government and address regional and caste equations ahead of upcoming elections.
