To prevent any dissatisfaction within its allies in the new Mahagathbandhan Government led by Nitish Kumar, a formula has been worked out for allotting Ministerial berths.
A coordination committee will also be formed to take up issues raised by the alliance partners and ensure that differences do not come into the public domain and are sorted out internally.
Sources said the formula worked upon is one Ministerial berth to a party per every 4 MLAs. This means that the major partner RJD led by Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav will have a greater share with 18 ministers followed by Nitish’s JDU with 12 berths.
The Congress will end up with four Minister berths. The Grand Alliance at present comprises seven parties — JD(U), RJD, Congress, CPIML(L), CPI, CPI(M) and HAM, which together have more than 160 MLAs in the 243-member Assembly.
Congress state in-charge Bhakta Charan Das said the party as of now will get three Ministers, with 2 taking oath on August 16 and others to be inducted in the next exercise. If the above formula worked, then Congress may get an additional berth later.
The Left parties will not join the Government and extend outside support. The Left block has 16 members in the Assembly. The Nitish-led Mahagathbandhan Government will go on for a floor test on August 24.
Das said the Congress MLAs who will become the Ministers are yet to be decided. "We will finalise the names of our legislators who will be part of the Nitish Kumar Cabinet on Monday," he said.
While Nitish is in touch with Tejashwi, JD(U) president Lalan Singh reached Delhi to meet RJD patriarch Lalu Yadav.