Patna: Ministers in Nitish Kumar’s latest administration have begun assuming charge of their departments, a day after portfolios were formally allocated. Ashok Choudhary and Deepak Prakash Kushwaha were among the first to arrive at their offices on Saturday, followed by sports minister Shreyasi Singh, as the new cabinet settled into its roles.
Rural works minister Ashok Choudhary moved quickly to outline his priorities, pledging to work “to full capacity” to deliver on the chief minister’s vision for infrastructure. He stressed the importance of improved rural connectivity to support Bihar’s economic growth. Choudhary said year-round roads would be developed, major routes widened and ongoing projects accelerated. With traffic volumes rising across the state, he added, the expansion of key roads into double lanes would be essential.
Deepak Prakash Kushwaha, the new panchayati raj minister and son of Rashtriya Lok Morcha leader Upendra Kushwaha, emphasised the centrality of grassroots institutions in strengthening governance. He said his department would work to ensure that the benefits of panchayati raj schemes reach “every individual in every village”. The responsibility entrusted to him, he added, would be carried out with “utmost dedication”.
After assuming office, Prakash held a meeting with senior officials to review the department’s functioning. Discussions covered priority areas, pending and ongoing projects, fund utilisation and challenges reported by panchayat representatives. He instructed officials to prioritise transparency, timeliness and accountability, urging them to avoid unnecessary formalities and move swiftly on pending work. Progress reports, he said, must be expedited, and implementation of schemes should not face delays.
