Patna: The expansion of Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary’s cabinet on Thursday became a major political talking point after the sons of three former chief ministers were sworn in as ministers together. The oath-taking ceremony took place at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna in the presence of several senior leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Along with experienced faces, the cabinet also included leaders from influential political families, showing how political legacy continues to play an important role in Bihar politics.
One of the biggest highlights of the cabinet expansion was the induction of Nishant Kumar, the son of former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. Nishant became a minister for the first time and his entry into active politics immediately attracted public attention. He is currently not a member of either the Bihar Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council, making his appointment even more significant. Political observers believe his inclusion may signal a larger role for him within the Janata Dal (United) in the future, especially after Nitish Kumar stepped down as chief minister and moved to the Rajya Sabha earlier this year.
Another important face in the new cabinet is Santosh Kumar Suman, son of former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and leader of the Hindustani Awam Morcha. Santosh Suman has already served as a minister in earlier NDA governments and has once again found a place in the cabinet. He is a member of the Legislative Council and is considered an important leader representing the Mahadalit community in Bihar. Alongside him, Nitish Mishra, son of former chief minister Jagannath Mishra, also took oath as minister. Nitish Mishra had earlier worked as a minister in previous Bihar governments but was not included in the last cabinet.
The swearing-in ceremony saw the presence of several senior NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and defence minister Rajnath Singh. Former chief ministers and alliance leaders such as Chirag Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha also attended the event. The large gathering at Gandhi Maidan was seen as a show of strength by the NDA government led by Samrat Chaudhary.
The BJP-led government in Bihar was formed on 15 April after Nitish Kumar resigned from the post of chief minister following his election to the Rajya Sabha. Samrat Chaudhary then took oath as the new chief minister, marking the BJP’s first direct leadership of the Bihar government. Along with him, Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary were appointed deputy chief ministers. After Thursday’s expansion, the total number of ministers in the Bihar government has risen to 34, strengthening the NDA alliance ahead of future political challenges in the state.
