Patna, June 26: Chief minister Nitish Kumar appears to be in no hurry to expand his council of ministers despite pressure from within his party and the four Independents backing the JD(U) in the trust vote on June 19.

The much-awaited cabinet expansion might be deferred beyond August 2 for two reasons — the absence of Governor D.Y. Patil for 15 days from tomorrow and the monsoon session of Bihar Legislature from July 26 to August 2.

A source said: “It is a foregone conclusion that the ministry cannot be expanded in the governor’s absence. After the declaration of the monsoon session schedule of the House, a section of the ruling establishment has started believing that no ministry expansion would be made up to August 2.”

There are 18 vacancies in Nitish’s council of ministers now.

Sources close to the chief minister suggested that he was buying time on the cabinet expansion for three broad reasons. First, at least 146 legislators (including MLAs and MLCs) are “desperate” to become ministers against 18 vacancies. “With too many claimants, expanding the ministry might fan dissidence than containing it,” feared an aide of Nitish.

The second reason behind Nitish’s dilly-dallying approach towards the expansion of the ministry is perhaps lack of quality people. He might be finding it hard to get the substitutes for the likes of his former deputy and finance minister Sushil Kumar Modi and former road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav in his own ranks.

Third, Nitish might not be willing to concede the key ministries to the inexperienced Independents, exerting pressure on him for plum portfolios like finance and road construction.

“After all, retaining the performer’s image of his government is paramount in the chief minister’s mind with elections round the corner. He does not want to fill the ministry berths with the ministers deficient on integrity and efficiency,” a source close to Nitish said. “In private conversations, he (Nitish) has held out the threat that he might recommend the dissolution of the House if undue pressure is mounted on him to expand his ministry simply to appease the legislators,” he added.

Modi, the former deputy chief minister, told The Telegraph: “Nitish would be in consistent pursuit to appease the dissidents to save his chair rather than concentrating on governance.”