No need for symbolic presence: Nitish after JD(U) opts out of Union Cabinet

A day after the Union Cabinet took the oath of office and secrecy, Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar explained why the party declined a ministerial berth. Kumar, who is also the Chief Minister of Bihar, said that the JD(U) has officially offered support to the Bharatiya Janata Party, and so there is no need for the party's 'symbolic' presence in the Union Cabinet. Apart from JD(U), BJP allies like AIADMK and Apna Dal (Sonelal) have also been kept out of the Council of Ministers.