Bihar’s new government has initiated its term with a significant administrative realignment, as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has delegated the crucial Home Department to Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. This marks a historic moment, ending Nitish Kumar’s 20-year-long personal stewardship of the portfolio considered central to his authority.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), now holding the reins of the Home Department, along with Finance and Commercial Taxes going to the JD(U), has described the portfolio allocation as a “rebalancing” within the NDA coalition. This adjustment appears to acknowledge the BJP’s stronger electoral performance, securing 89 seats to the JD(U)’s 43.
A JD(U) spokesperson has downplayed the significance of the move, asserting that Nitish Kumar’s leadership will continue to guide all governmental decisions and that law and order remains a core competency of their party. Similarly, a BJP minister expressed commitment to upholding the rule of law, emphasizing the trust placed in them by the Chief Minister.
However, many political commentators view this as a substantial shift in power, effectively reducing the Chief Minister’s direct oversight. Issues concerning the Home Department and law and order will now be primarily handled by Choudhary, with Nitish Kumar’s intervention limited to specific dispute resolution scenarios. This structural change fundamentally alters the flow of administrative information, as files will no longer reach the Chief Minister through the dual capacity of Home Minister and Chief Minister.
The historical context of Bihar’s administrative structure, separating police and magisterial powers, adds another layer to this development. Long-standing reform efforts aimed at streamlining this system have historically faced bureaucratic hurdles. The current power transfer means Nitish Kumar will have significantly less direct influence over the daily functioning of the police and internal security apparatus, a domain he has meticulously controlled for two decades.
