PATNA: (AMN) Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday allotted portfolios to his 29 Cabinet colleagues. While retaining Home, General Administration, Cabinet co-ordination he gave Finance and Commercial Taxes, Forest & Environment to his deputy er Sushil Kumar Modi. Bijendra Prasad gets Energy and Ramai Ram Revenue and Land Reforms. First time Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary has been given water resources and Praveen Amanullah is the new social welfare minister. The new Cabinet has a blend of highly qualified members and a 7th-pass minister as well.
Satyadeo Narayan Arya who has been an MLA for the last 28 years without a break has been made minister for mine and geology department. On the other hand first time member of the state assembly, Praveen Amanullah has been given cabinet berth, much to the dismay of senior members of the house. Former Advocate general P K Sahi who is not even a member of either of the two houses of the state legislature has been made cabinet minister of HRD. In Nitish cabinet there are several educated ministers but Hari Prasad Ash, a class eight drop out has been made minister for Panchayati Raj department.