Patna: Rama Nishad was sworn in as a minister in the Bihar government on Thursday during the expansion of chief minister Samrat Choudhary’s cabinet at a ceremony held in Patna, marking a significant political comeback for the BJP leader from Hajipur.
Nishad’s rise to the state cabinet comes less than two years after a setback that had cast doubts over her political future. In 2023, she lost a ward councillor election in Hajipur — including in the ward where she resides — a defeat that triggered widespread discussion in local political circles.
Rather than retreat from public life, Nishad remained active in grassroots politics and continued working within the BJP organisation, focusing particularly on women’s participation and backward-class representation.
Before joining the BJP, Nishad had reportedly sought a ticket from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) but switched parties after failing to secure a nomination. The BJP later fielded her from the Aurai assembly constituency, where she won and entered the Bihar legislative assembly.
Her inclusion in the cabinet is being seen by party leaders as an attempt to strengthen representation among women and backward communities ahead of upcoming political battles in the state.
Celebrations broke out among BJP workers and supporters in Hajipur after her name appeared in the list of ministers ahead of Thursday’s oath-taking ceremony at Gandhi Maidan.
Nishad comes from a politically connected family. She is the daughter-in-law of the late Captain Jai Narain and the wife of Ajay Nishad. She previously served as chairperson of the Hajipur municipal council and also held the post of deputy chairperson, establishing herself as a prominent figure in local civic politics.
Her journey from a municipal election defeat to a cabinet berth is likely to be projected by the BJP as a story of resilience and political perseverance within Bihar’s shifting political landscape.
