Nitish Kumar has officially begun his tenth term as Bihar’s Chief Minister, marking a significant political chapter. The newly sworn-in cabinet, comprising 26 ministers from across the NDA coalition – BJP, JD(U), LJP, HAM, and RLM – signals the government’s initial strategy for state governance. Twenty-seven out of a possible 36 ministerial posts have been filled, leaving nine positions open for future appointments.
The BJP leads the ministerial count with 14 representatives, followed by JD(U) with nine, including the Chief Minister. The LJP secured two slots, while HAM and RLM each have one minister. The cabinet introduces ten new faces, with the BJP contributing seven, along with both LJP ministers and one from RLM. The JD(U) has chosen to maintain continuity by keeping its existing ministerial team intact.
Dynastic political connections are present, with Santosh Kumar Suman, son of Jitan Ram Manjhi, continuing his ministerial tenure. Deepak Prakash, son of Upendra Kushwaha, has been appointed and must become a legislator within six months, potentially through a nomination to the Legislative Council under the NDA quota.
Gender representation in the cabinet is notably low, with only three women ministers: Lacy Singh (JD-U), Ramaa Nishad (BJP), and Shreysi Singh (BJP), the latter being the youngest minister and a Commonwealth Games gold medallist. Financial disclosures indicate substantial wealth differences among ministers, with Ramaa Nishad reporting assets around ₹32 crore, while Sanjay Paswan of the LJP has declared ₹22 lakh. Nitish Kumar himself has declared assets of ₹1.64 crore.
Nine ministers face ongoing legal cases, including Nitin Naveen of the BJP, who has five such cases. The caste composition is a key feature, designed for broad representation: five Dalits, four Rajputs, three Kushwahas, three Vaishyas, two Yadavs, two Kurmis, two Nishads, and two Bhumihars, with one minister each from Brahmin, Kayastha, Chandravanshi, and Muslim communities. Broader caste categories include ten OBC, eight upper-caste, five Dalit, three EBC, and one Muslim minister.
The formation of this cabinet, with its blend of experience, new entrants, family ties, and diverse social backgrounds, underscores the complex political landscape of Bihar and the careful considerations involved in governing the state.