Nitish Kumar to expand cabinet on June 16

Ratnesh Sada, Janta Dal (United) MLA from Sonbarsa and a Dalit leader is likely to be inducted in the cabinet.

 A day after the resignation of Jitan Ram Manjhi’s son Santosh Suman, the Nitish Kumar government is going to expand its cabinet on June 16. Ratnesh Sada, Janata Dal (United) MLA from Sonbarsa and a Dalit leader is likely to be inducted in the cabinet. The oath taking ceremony would be held at Raj Bhavan at 10:30 a.m. Apart from Mr. Sada, few more leaders may take the oath as ministers. 

Three-time MLA from Sonbarsa in Saharsa district, Mr. Sada is likely to get the portfolio of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Welfare department which was being held by Mr. Suman. Sources confirmed that on Tuesday Mr. Sada received a call from Chief Minister Office (CMO) and Mr. Kumar spoke to him and asked to be in Patna.

Mr. Sada who was in his constituency rushed to Patna last night. However, he did not say anything when the media asked him about his name being considered for a post of a cabinet minister.

Mr. Sada belongs to the Musahar (rat eaters) community; even Mr. Suman was from the same community. 

He is an MLA from Sonbarsa for three consecutive terms and is said to be in the good books of Mr. Kumar which has helped him to be the front runner in the cabinet expansion. His journey from being a rickshaw puller to now an MLA and now likely to be a minister has made him special. His simple nature and good oratory skills led him to achieve this position apart from hard work.

Mr. Sada started his political journey in the year 1987 and always worked for the upliftment of the Dalits. Presently he is the State President of JD(U) Maha Dalit Cell. In 2010, Ratnesh Sada became MLA for the first time on JD(U) ticket.

On Tuesday Mr. Suman resigned from the cabinet citing the reason that continuous pressure was being built to merge Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) in JD(U) so instead of merging the party, he thought of resigning.