Nitish Kumar Unveils Expanded Bihar Cabinet: BJP Dominates Key Portfolios as CM Begins 10th Term
By Tajdar H. Zaidi
Patna: In a major political development following his oath-taking ceremony for a record tenth term, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday allocated portfolios to his newly expanded coalition cabinet.
The distribution underscores a significant shift in the power equation within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging as the most influential partner in the state government.
BJP Bags Lion’s Share of Ministries
With 89 MLAs, the BJP is the single largest party in the Bihar Assembly, and this numerical strength is reflected in the portfolio allocation.
The party has bagged some of the most influential departments:
Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has taken charge of the Home Department, a ministry that Nitish Kumar himself has tightly controlled for nearly two decades.
The decision to hand this critical portfolio to Chaudhary signifies a significant gesture toward the BJP’s expanding clout.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha has been entrusted with Revenue & Land Reforms as well as Mines and Geology, both of which hold immense administrative and economic importance for the state.
Other key ministries given to BJP leaders include:
Health and Law under Mangal Pandey,
Industries under Dilip Jaiswal,
Road Construction and Urban Development & Housing under Nitin Naveen.
The distribution marks a reshaping of administrative responsibilities, placing the BJP in control of several crucial nodes of governance.
Allies Get Strategic Placements
Nitish Kumar has ensured representation for all NDA allies, though the allocation reflects their relative political weight:
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has been given Sugarcane Industries and Public Health Engineering.
Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), led by former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, has received the Minor Water Resources portfolio.
Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) has secured the Panchayati Raj department, placing it in charge of rural governance structures.
Grand Ceremony Sets the Stage for a Fresh Term
The portfolio announcement comes a day after a grand swearing-in ceremony at Gandhi Maidan, Patna, which saw the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several central ministers, and Chief Ministers from multiple NDA-ruled states.
The massive turnout and the high-profile attendance emphasised the political significance of Nitish Kumar’s return to power.
At 74, Nitish Kumar begins another chapter in his long political career, now supported by a 26-member cabinet comprising:
- 8 JD(U) ministers,
- 2 LJP(R) members,
- 1 minister each from HAM and RLM,
- and a substantial list of BJP ministers, making it the dominant force in the power structure.
The state cabinet, under constitutional provisions, can accommodate up to 36 ministers, leaving space for future expansion if needed.
Deputy CMs Show Strong Electoral Mandates
Both Deputy Chief Ministers have demonstrated solid electoral backing:
- Samrat Chaudhary secured the Tarapur seat with 1,22,480 votes, decisively defeating RJD’s Arun Shah.
- Vijay Kumar Sinha won in Lakhisarai by receiving 1,22,408 votes, overpowering Congress candidate Amaresh Kumar.
Their strong victories add political legitimacy to their senior roles in the new government.
Contrast with the Outgoing Government
In the outgoing administration, the BJP had 15 cabinet berths, while JD(U) controlled 12, including the Chief Ministership. HAM and an Independent MLA held one berth each.
The new allocation, however, clearly signals a greater consolidation of the BJP’s influence within the NDA coalition.
A Political Reset in Bihar
The redistribution of portfolios marks a strategic recalibration in Bihar’s governance structure.
By granting major ministries to the BJP, Nitish Kumar has acknowledged both the arithmetic strength of the party and the political compulsions of coalition governance.
The new cabinet is expected to shape Bihar’s administrative direction in the coming years, with critical departments now under new leadership.
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