Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been sworn in for an unprecedented tenth term, marking a significant milestone in state politics. The new cabinet, sworn in alongside the Chief Minister, is a strategic blend of experienced leaders and fresh faces, aimed at navigating Bihar’s upcoming governance challenges. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition has carefully curated this ministerial team, ensuring representation from all its constituent parties: BJP, JD(U), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM).
The BJP emerges as the dominant force with 14 ministerial berths, followed by JD(U) with nine, including Nitish Kumar. The LJP secures two positions, while HAM and RLM each receive one. Notably, the cabinet welcomes ten new ministers, with the BJP contributing seven, alongside both LJP nominees and one from RLM. The JD(U), in contrast, has opted to retain its existing ministers, introducing no new members.
Dynastic politics is also evident, with Santosh Kumar Suman, son of Jitan Ram Manjhi, continuing his role. Deepak Prakash, son of Upendra Kushwaha, has been appointed despite not currently being a legislator, with a six-month window to secure a legislative seat, potentially through the Legislative Council quota.
Female representation remains a concern, constituting about 10% of the cabinet with only three women: Lacy Singh (JD-U), Ramaa Nishad (BJP), and Shreysi Singh (BJP), the latter also being the youngest and a Commonwealth Games gold medallist. Financial disclosures reveal diverse asset levels among ministers. BJP’s Ramaa Nishad is the wealthiest at approximately ₹32 crore, while LJP’s Sanjay Paswan is the least affluent with ₹22 lakh. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar declared assets of ₹1.64 crore.
Nine ministers have active criminal cases against them, with Nitin Naveen of the BJP facing the most at five. Caste composition was a critical factor, featuring five Dalit, four Rajput, three Kushwaha, three Vaishya, two Yadav, two Kurmi, two Nishad, and two Bhumihar ministers, plus one each from Brahmin, Kayastha, Chandravanshi, and Muslim communities. Broader classifications show ten OBC, eight upper caste, five Dalit, three EBC, and one Muslim minister.
A minor point of note is the presence of three ministers named Sanjay. This new cabinet underscores the intricate balance of experience, new talent, familial legacies, gender inclusivity, wealth, and caste dynamics essential for effective governance in Bihar.
