Nitish Kumar has taken oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record tenth term, and the newly formed cabinet includes a significant political debut: Deepak Prakash, son of influential leader Upendra Kushwaha. Deepak has been appointed as a minister representing the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) quota, a position secured without contesting the recent Assembly elections.
Deepak hails from a politically entrenched family. His father, Upendra Kushwaha, is a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha and has a notable political career, including stints as a Union minister and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly. Adding to the family’s political clout, his mother, Sneh Lata Kushwaha, recently won the Sasaram Assembly seat by a substantial margin.
While speculation initially favored Sneh Lata for a cabinet berth, a strategic decision within the NDA, influenced by Upendra Kushwaha’s standing, led to Deepak’s inclusion. Under constitutional requirements, Deepak must secure a seat in either the Bihar Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council within six months of his appointment. Sources suggest his nomination to the Legislative Council is being planned.
This move is being interpreted by political analysts as a deliberate strategy to bolster the Luv-Kush (Kurmi-Kushwaha) community’s support base for the NDA. Both Nitish Kumar and Upendra Kushwaha are key leaders from this demographic, and Deepak’s induction ensures their continued political representation and influence within the state government.
The appointment of Deepak as a minister consolidates the Kushwaha family’s grip on political power in Bihar. Upendra Kushwaha, after losing the Karakat Lok Sabha seat in 2024, was appointed to the Rajya Sabha with NDA support. His wife’s recent electoral success, combined with their son’s ministerial role, establishes a strong political presence for the family.
The RLM, an NDA ally, had secured four out of its six allocated seats in the Assembly elections, marking a positive turnaround for Upendra Kushwaha. His political journey has been varied, including alliances and electoral challenges. However, his return to the NDA and the formation of RLM have proven beneficial, leading to his family’s elevated status in Bihar’s political arena.
