Nitish Kumar has commenced his historic tenth term as Chief Minister of Bihar, leading a new cabinet that reflects the strategic priorities of the NDA coalition. The swearing-in ceremony introduced a team of 26 ministers, designed to tackle the state’s governance agenda effectively. The current cabinet composition includes representatives from all five NDA allies: BJP, JD(U), LJP, HAM, and RLM.
The BJP dominates the ministerial allocation with 14 seats, while Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) holds nine. The LJP has two ministers, and HAM and RLM have one each. This formation leaves nine ministerial vacancies to be filled later. The cabinet notably features ten newcomers: seven from the BJP, both LJP nominees, and one from RLM. The JD(U), opting for stability, has retained all its previous ministers.
Dynastic continuity is seen with Santosh Kumar Suman, son of Jitan Ram Manjhi, remaining a minister. Deepak Prakash, son of Upendra Kushwaha, has been inducted, a move that requires him to become a legislator within six months, potentially through a nomination to the Legislative Council.
Women’s representation is sparse, with only three female ministers: Lacy Singh (JD-U), Ramaa Nishad (BJP), and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Shreysi Singh (BJP), who is also the youngest cabinet member. Financial declarations reveal a wide wealth disparity, with Ramaa Nishad reporting approximately ₹32 crore in assets, while Sanjay Paswan of the LJP possesses ₹22 lakh. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has declared assets totaling ₹1.64 crore.
Nine ministers are facing ongoing criminal charges, the highest number being five cases against Nitin Naveen of the BJP. Caste considerations have played a significant role in the selection process, with the cabinet including five Dalits, four Rajputs, three Kushwahas, three Vaishyas, two Yadavs, two Kurmis, two Nishads, and two Bhumihars, plus one minister each from the Brahmin, Kayastha, Chandravanshi, and Muslim communities. On a broader scale, the cabinet consists of ten OBC, eight upper-caste, five Dalit, three EBC, and one Muslim minister.
The cabinet’s formation highlights the complex interplay of political experience, new leadership, family influence, gender balance, economic status, and caste equations, all crucial elements for effective governance in Bihar.
