A DAY after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar formed the Government in Bihar in alliance with the NDA, hectic lobbying started for the post of Assembly Speaker, and other legislators to be included in the Council of Ministers. Kumar on Monday chaired the meeting of his new cabinet to distribute portfolios. After the cabinet meeting, leaders of NDA constituents, however, remained tight-lipped about the distribution of portfolios.

 

According to sources, the Cabinet Secretariat is expected to issue a notification pertaining to portfolio distribution by Monday evening. Meanwhile, the BJP has submitted a notice of no-confidence motion to the Assembly Secretary against Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, who represents the RJD. BJP leaders, in the notice, expressed a lack of confidence in the present speaker as a new Government has assumed power. The motion was signed by legislators of the BJP as well as the JD(U). The Cabinet meeting chaired by Nitish Kumar was attended by all the eight Ministers who took oath on Sunday.