Patna: In an apparent bid to mollify the Congress, coalition partner of Rashtriya Janata Party (RJD) led Bihar government, Chief Minister, Rabri Devi allocated additional portfolios to the three disgruntled Congress ministers who had sought to resign.

The three ministers had sought to resign and stayed away from office for several days before deciding to resume duty on November 8 following a directive from the Congress High Command and assurances from the Chief Minister and RJD chief, Laloo Prasad Yadav to redress their grievances.

Minister of state for science and technology, Chowdhary Mehboob Ali Qaisar was given additional charge of higher education, Zahidur Rehman got additional charge of mines and geology apart from relief and rehabilitation department, and Mohammed Javed was divested of his labour, employment and training portfolio to get the charge of law and animal husbandry departments.

BPCC president Shakeel Ahmed said, during extensive talks he and Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Vijay Shanker Dubey had with Laloo Yadav and Rabri Devi and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Oscar Fernandes, it was decided that the ministers' opinions would be heard and their demand for a say in administrative functioning in their districts kept in mind.

PTI