Patna: On Tuesday, a total of 31 ministers from various parties affiliated with the state's Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance were appointed to the Bihar cabinet. Phagu Chauhan, the governor of Bihar, gave the new Ministers the oath of office and secrecy at Raj Bhavan.  The Janata Dal (United) received 11, while the RJD received 16.

Two Congress legislators, i.e, one from Jitin Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha and the other Sumit Kumar Singh, the lone Independent MLA, also took oath as cabinet ministers.

Taking the oath on behalf of the RJD were Tej Pratap Yadav, brother of deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, Samir Kumar Mahaseth, Chandrashekhar, Kumar Sarvajeet, Lalit Yadav, Surendra Prasad Yadav, Ramanand Yadav, Jitendra Kumar Rai, Anita Devi, Sudhakar Singh, and Alok Mehta.

Santosh Suman of the Hindustani Awam Morcha and Congress legislator  Afaque Alam and Murari Lal Gautam were also sworn in as ministers.

Up to 36 ministers, including the chief minister, may serve in the Bihar cabinet. According to source, several ministerial positions would be left open for potential future cabinet growth.

Nitish Kumar had split away from the BJP and established a government with the RJD and other parties earlier this month. On August 10, the Chief Minister and Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD took the oath of office.

The overall strength of the Bihar Grand Alliance is 163. After Independent MLA Sumit Kumar Singh backed Nitish Kumar, the party's actual strength increased to 164. On August 24, the Bihar assembly is set to vote in favour of the new administration with a majority.

Days after the JD(U) broke up its relationship with the BJP and established a new administration in the state, the BJP's national leadership will meet with the leaders of the party's Bihar branch here on Tuesday.

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