In a significant political development in Bihar, Nitish Kumar on Thursday took oath as the Chief Minister for a record 10th time. The swearing-in ceremony marked the formation of a new coalition government in the state, with a total of 26 ministers, in addition to the Chief Minister, being inducted into the new cabinet, while the event was graced by the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President JP Nadda, and Chief Ministers from several other states, underscoring the national importance of this political transition.
A Historic Swearing-in Ceremony
The oath-taking ceremony held on Thursday was a momentous occasion for Bihar's political landscape. Following Nitish Kumar's oath as Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary was the first to take the oath as a minister, followed by Vijay Sinha. Both Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha have been appointed Deputy Chief Ministers for the second consecutive time, signifying the strong representation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the new government. The presence of national leaders on the dais added immense gravitas to the event, signaling solid coordination between the central and state governments. This ceremony has set a new direction for Bihar's political future.
Composition of the New Cabinet
The new cabinet under Nitish Kumar comprises 26 ministers, representing various political parties and communities within the alliance. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured the largest share, with. 17 ministers, while the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) has 15 ministers. On top of that, Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) has one minister, and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) also has one minister, while chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas Paswan) is expected to have two ministers. This structure reflects the power-sharing arrangement and representation within the coalition.
Key Ministerial Inductions
Beyond Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the 26 ministers who took the oath include a mix of seasoned politicians and new faces. Apart from Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha, prominent JDU leaders like Vijay Chaudhary, Vijendra Yadav, Shravan Kumar, Ashok Chaudhary, Lesi Singh, Madan Sahni, Sunil Kumar, Jama Khan, Sanjay Kumar, Sanjay Kumar Singh, and Deepak Prakash were sworn in. Jama Khan stands out as the sole Muslim face in this cabinet. From the BJP quota, leaders such as Mangal Pandey, Dilip Jaiswal, Nitin Naveen, Ram Kripal, Sanjay Singh Tiger, Arun Shankar, Surendra Mehta, Narayan Prasad, Rama Nishad, Lakhendra Kumar Roushan, Shreyasi Singh, and Pramod Kumar assumed ministerial roles.
Blend of Youth and Experience
The new cabinet highlights a balanced blend of youthful energy and seasoned leadership. Santosh Suman, son of Jitan Ram Manjhi, who was also a minister in the previous government, took the oath representing the HAM party. Meanwhile, Deepak Prakash, son of Upendra Kushwaha, has become a minister for the first time, representing the RLM. The JDU has largely relied on its trusted and experienced faces, including Vijay Chaudhary, Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Shravan Kumar, Ashok Chaudhary, Lesi Singh, and Madan Sahni. The BJP has also included leaders like Shreyasi Singh, Ram Nishad, Surendra Mehta, Mangal Pandey,. Nitin Naveen, Narayan Shah, Ram Kripal, and Sanjay Tiger, representing various segments of the party.
Coalition Strategy and Future Direction
The agreed-upon cabinet sharing formula dictates that the BJP will hold 17 ministerial portfolios in addition to the Speaker's post, indicating its strong position within the alliance. The JDU will have 15 ministers, underscoring the party's continued role under Nitish Kumar's leadership. The formation of this coalition aims to bring stability to Bihar's political landscape and accelerate the state's development. The presence of top leadership, including Prime Minister Modi, also signals the central government's support for this new administration, which is expected to boost development projects in the state. This new cabinet is poised to make crucial decisions for Bihar's future and guide the state towards progress.
Calls for Ministerial Appointments
Prior to the swearing-in ceremony, several leaders received calls for ministerial positions. Among the prominent JDU leaders who received calls were Vijay Chaudhary, Shravan. Kumar, Vijendra Yadav, Ashok Chaudhary, Madan Sahni, Jama Khan, and Lesi Singh. Similarly, from the BJP quota, in addition to Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha, Shreyasi Singh, Ram Nishad, Surendra Mehta, Mangal Pandey, Nitin Naveen, Narayan Shah, Ram Kripal, Sanjay Tiger, Pramod Chandravanshi, Arun Shankar Prasad, and Dilip Jaiswal also received calls for ministerial roles, while this process highlights the selection of leaders involved in the formation of the new cabinet.
