Patna, (Bihar Times): At 8:33 PM on Saturday that is a day before his son's marriage, dissident minister in the Nitish cabinet, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, joined his new portfolio, the PHED. Six days back on last Sunday he was shifted from the Urban development to this department, but was angry over the way the chief minister shifted him.

He told newsmen later that 8:33 PM of April 19 was an auspicious time for him to join the new portfolio. Another auspicious day is April 25 and that would have been too late for him to join. At the same time he said that he assumed charge following the instruction of the central leadership of the party. Choubey said he had a talk with the chief minister Nitish Kumar before taking over the new ministry.

Choubey's joining of the ministry does not suggest that things have turned normal in the Bharatiya Janata Party. Several more leaders and legislators have joined the dissident ranks. This includes former state president, Gopal Narayan Singh.

Newspaper reports from Delhi suggest that Radha Mohan Singh's departure is almost certain. He is the state president of the BJP. However, there is nothing clear whether action would be taken against the deputy chief minister, Sushil Kumar Modi, or not. It is against him that most of the party leaders are angry. Modi too is in Delhi and is in touch with the central leadership of the party.