In a landmark political moment, Nitish Kumar on Thursday took oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the tenth time, leading a new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. This marks the fifth consecutive term in which his party, the Janata Dal (United), has joined hands with the BJP and allied parties to form the government.
The historic ceremony, held at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, once again showcased Nitish’s enduring political influence. Popularly known as ‘sushasan babu’ for his emphasis on good governance and infrastructural development, Nitish Kumar managed to overcome anti-incumbency to retain his grip on the state’s top office.
Alongside the Chief Minister, BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha were sworn in as the two Deputy Chief Ministers. A total of 25 other NDA leaders were inducted, bringing the new cabinet strength to 26. The tenure of the 17th Bihar Assembly concludes on November 22.
Full List of Ministers Who Took Oath:
- Samrat Choudhary (BJP)
- Vijay Kumar Sinha (BJP)
- Vijay Kumar Choudhary (JD-U)
- Bijendra Prasad Yadav (JD-U)
- Shravan Kumar (JD-U)
- Mangal Pandey (BJP)
- Dilip Kumar Jaiswal (BJP)
- Ashok Choudhary (JD-U)
- Lesi Singh (JD-U)
- Madan Sahani (JD-U)
- Nitin Nabin (BJP)
- Ram Kripal Yadav (BJP)
- Santosh Kumar Suman (HAM-S)
- Sunil Kumar (JD-U)
- Mohammad Zama Khan (JD-U)
- Sanjay Singh Tiger (BJP)
- Arun Shankar Prasad (BJP)
- Surendra Mehta (BJP)
- Narayan Prasad (BJP)
- Rama Nishad (BJP)
- Lakhendra Kumar Raushan (BJP)
- Shreyashi Singh (BJP)
- Pramod Kumar (BJP)
- Sanjay Kumar (LJP-RV)
- Sanjay Kumar Singh (LJP-RV)
- Deepak Prakash (RLM)
Cabinet Composition: BJP Secures the Most Berths
Bihar’s Council of Ministers can have a maximum of 36 members, including the Chief Minister. With 26 ministers sworn in today, nine more positions remain vacant. Their portfolios will be announced shortly.
In the newly formed 26-member cabinet:
- BJP has secured 14 berths
- JD(U) has taken 8 berths
- LJP (RV) has received 2 berths
- HAM(S) and RLM have 1 berth each
The cabinet features a strategic blend of experience and fresh faces, with a deliberate balance of caste and regional representation. Among the 27 leaders (including the CM), the distribution includes:
- 8 upper-caste ministers
- 5 Dalit ministers
- 1 Muslim minister
- 13 OBC/EBC ministers
Notable new entrants include Shreyashi Singh, a national shooting champion and MLA from Jamui, and Rama Nishad, the Aurai MLA and daughter-in-law of former Union minister Jaynarayan Nishad.
RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha’s son, Deepak Prakash, has also joined the cabinet despite not being an MLA. As per constitutional provisions, he must be inducted into the legislative council within six months.
Another significant inclusion is veteran BJP leader Ram Kripal Yadav, who made a political comeback after defeating RJD’s heavyweight Ritlal Yadav in Danapur.
The two representatives from LJP (Ram Vilas) — Sanjay Kumar and Sanjay Kumar Singh — have also found place in the cabinet, strengthening the party’s footprint in the new government.