Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who returned from Delhi on Wednesday, immediately paid a courtesy visit to former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna.
Nitish Kumar warmly received him, and the meeting is being viewed as politically significant, especially in the backdrop of the much-anticipated Bihar cabinet expansion.
During his recent Delhi visit, Samrat Choudhary held key meetings with top leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Nitin Nabin.
He also visited the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
According to sources, he held multiple discussions with Nitin Nabin regarding Bihar’s political situation and the proposed cabinet expansion.
However, the cabinet expansion has been temporarily put on hold.
Sources indicate that no final date for the swearing-in ceremony has been decided yet.
One of the primary reasons cited is the packed schedule of the central BJP leadership, which is currently focused on upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
It is also reported that final approval for ministerial names will be given only after Samrat Choudhary meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The date for the cabinet expansion is likely to be finalised following this crucial meeting.
Additionally, there are ongoing discussions and some disagreements regarding portfolio allocation with ally Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), which remain unresolved.
Due to these factors, the cabinet expansion may be delayed until after the results of the assembly elections in other states are announced.
Meanwhile, a key development is a scheduled cabinet meeting in Bihar.
As per a notification from the Cabinet Secretariat Department, an important meeting was held at 6:00 PM on April 22, 2026, at the Main Secretariat in Patna.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, both Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, and senior officials, and is expected to address crucial administrative matters.
(IANS)
