Chief minister Nitish Kumar has done it once again.

The week-long monsoon session, starting from July 27, in sight, the chief minister has allotted the departments, previously held by BJP ministers, to JD(U) ministers for the sake of answering questions in the state Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.

Nitish Kumar, saddled with 18 departments following the NDA break-up on June 16, has this habit of allocating portfolios ahead of sessions of legislative bodies. Prior to the dismissal of the 11 BJP ministers of the coalition government, the chief minister held additional charge of five departments — home, law, general administration, civil aviation and cabinet co-ordination.

Dal MLAs waiting for the expansion of the Nitish ministry are disappointed at his move. The portfolios have been distributed just for the session of the legislative bodies, which implies that the JD(U) ministers have been given additional charge. “It means that there would be no expansion of the ministry in July at least,” said a disappointed ministerial aspirant on Thursday.

Following the split, the Nitish government managed to cobble up a majority with the support of Congress and Independents. Soon after, rumours were abuzz that Nitish would fill up the vacancies caused by the sacking of BJP ministers. However, there are many — including four Independents who are supporting him — aspirants for the ministerial berths. There have been demands made by some MLAs to elevate agriculture minister Narendra Singh as the deputy chief minister of Bihar. The BJP has dared the chief minister to expand his ministry and predicted a revolt in the JD(U).

According to the interim arrangement made for the legislative session, water resources minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary will answer questions related to finance and home affairs (a department usually held by the chief minister), while energy and parliamentary affairs minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav will look after the mines and geology department.

Agriculture minister Narendra Singh will look after animal and fish resources department, while industries minister Renu Kumari will answer questions related to the co-operative department. Social welfare minister Jeetan Ram Manjhi will field questions related to the labour department, while transport minister Brishen Patel will look after the health department.

Rural works minister Bhim Singh will answer questions related to the road construction department, while rural development minister Nitish Mishra will deal with posers on the environment and forest department.

Education minister P.K. Shahi will take care of questions related to the art and culture department, while the minister of food and consumer protection Shyam Rajak will handle the urban development department.