New Delhi: Former Union Minister Shahnawaz Hussain was on Tuesday sworn in as minister in Nitish Kumar government. Apart from BJP spokesperson, 16 others ministers also took oath as part of Nitish Kumar cabinet expansion.
Shahnawaz Hussain was the first to be administered the oath of office by Governor Phagu Chauhan at a ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan
Mr Hussain was elected to the Bihar legislative council last month.
Others who took oath today included JD(U) leaders Sanjay Kumar Jha, Shravan Kumar, Lesi Singh and Madan Sahni and Pramod Kumar of the BJP. All of them were ministers in previous Nitish government.
Bihar: BJP’s Shahnawaz Hussain took oath as Minister in Patna; 17 Ministers inducted in the State Council of Ministers. pic.twitter.com/FAmiJmQ7hb
— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021
The Bihar cabinet, which can have up to 36 members, had only 13, apart from the Chief Minister and therefore cabinet was much-anticipated for sometime.
Shahnawaz Hussain and Nitish Kumar have remained former colleagues at Centre, in Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
Shahnawaz, a three-time LS MP from Bhagalpur
Shahnawaz Hussain has been three-time Lok Sabha MP from Bhagalpur in Bihar. He did not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as his constituency went to the Janata Dal-United of Nitish Kumar as part of the seat-sharing deal with the BJP.
Shahnawaz Hussain’s induction in Nitish cabinet has raised eyebrows as this is seen as ‘downgrade’ from Union Minister to state minister rank. However, Mr Hussain bears no grudges and has readily accepted new assignment.
He told media persons “It is my good fortune that I have got the opportunity to work in my homeland.”
