Bihar has witnessed a historic moment as Nitish Kumar assumes office for his tenth term as Chief Minister. The accompanying cabinet induction ceremony saw 26 ministers take their oaths, solidifying the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) hold on the state government. This new ministerial council reflects a strategic distribution of power among the coalition partners, including the BJP, JD(U), LJP, HAM, and RLM.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured the lion’s share of cabinet positions with 14 ministers. Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) follows with nine ministers. The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) has been allocated two ministerial roles, and the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) each have one representative. Out of the 36 permissible ministerial positions, 27 have been filled, leaving room for future additions.
Significant changes include the induction of ten new faces. Seven new ministers hail from the BJP, complemented by both LJP ministers and one from RLM. Notably, the JD(U) has maintained continuity, retaining all its previous ministers without introducing new ones.
The influence of dynastic politics is apparent, with Santosh Kumar Suman, son of Jitan Ram Manjhi, continuing as a minister. Deepak Prakash, son of Upendra Kushwaha, has been appointed to the cabinet, a move that necessitates his securing a legislative position within six months, possibly via the Legislative Council.
Gender diversity in the cabinet is limited, with only three women ministers: Lacy Singh (JD-U), Ramaa Nishad (BJP), and the youngest minister and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Shreysi Singh (BJP). Financial profiles of ministers vary significantly; Ramaa Nishad leads with assets around ₹32 crore, while Sanjay Paswan of the LJP has the lowest declared assets at ₹22 lakh. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s declared assets stand at ₹1.64 crore.
Criminal records are present among nine ministers, with Nitin Naveen (BJP) facing five cases. The cabinet’s caste matrix is carefully balanced, comprising five Dalits, four Rajputs, three Kushwahas, three Vaishyas, two Yadavs, two Kurmis, two Nishads, and two Bhumihars, alongside single representation from Brahmin, Kayastha, Chandravanshi, and Muslim communities. In broader terms, the cabinet includes ten OBC, eight upper-caste, five Dalit, three EBC, and one Muslim minister.
The presence of three individuals named Sanjay might cause minor confusion. The overall composition highlights the careful political calculations involved in forming a government in Bihar, balancing diverse interests and demographics.