Patna, May 2: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Saturday left for New Delhi to hold a series of high-level meetings with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s central leadership, fueling strong indications of an imminent cabinet expansion in the state.
During his visit, the Chief Minister is scheduled to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President Nitin Nabin, and the party’s Bihar in-charge Vinod Tawde. Sources suggest that the discussions will primarily focus on finalising the much-awaited cabinet expansion, along with broader political strategy and organisational matters in Bihar.
According to party insiders, the BJP’s list of prospective ministers is likely to be deliberated and possibly approved during the Chief Minister’s interaction with Amit Shah. The move is seen as a crucial step toward strengthening governance and balancing political representation within the state.
The Chief Minister is expected to return to Patna on Sunday after concluding his engagements in the national capital.
The Delhi visit comes shortly after Choudhary’s meeting with former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at his residence in Patna. Describing the interaction as cordial, Choudhary had said he drew inspiration from Nitish Kumar’s experience and guidance—remarks that further intensified speculation about impending political developments.
Notably, the current administrative setup has placed a significant burden on the Chief Minister, who is handling as many as 29 departments. Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav are managing 10 and 8 portfolios respectively. The anticipated cabinet expansion is expected to ease this load while inducting new faces into governance.
In a parallel development, earlier in the day, the Chief Minister reviewed the proposed extension of JP Ganga Path—popularly known as Patna’s Marine Drive—towards Buxar, signaling continued focus on infrastructure expansion.
Samrat Choudhary assumed office as Chief Minister on April 14 following Nitish Kumar’s resignation, marking a significant political transition in Bihar. The upcoming cabinet expansion is now being closely watched as the next major step in consolidating the new government.
