A significant political event unfolded in Bihar with the NDA government, led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, expanding its Cabinet at Gandhi Maidan. In a ceremony attended by top national and state leaders, 32 ministers were sworn in, and portfolios were officially assigned. Notably, Nishant Kumar was appointed as the new Health Minister, marking a significant political move within the JD-U.
Former Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha now heads the Agriculture Department, a role previously held by Ram Kripal Yadav. Ram Kripal Yadav has been given the Cooperation Department, and Nitish Mishra will oversee the Urban Development, Housing, and Information Technology Departments. Dilip Kumar Jaiswal has been tasked with the Revenue and Land Reforms Department.
The Cabinet reshuffle also saw Engineer Shailendra taking charge of the Road Construction Department and Bullo Mandal overseeing the Energy Department. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary retains key portfolios like General Administration, Home, and Civil Aviation. Vijay Kumar Choudhary has been assigned the Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs departments, while Bijendra Prasad Yadav will handle Finance and Commercial Taxes.
The expansion, seen as crucial before the Bihar Assembly elections, reflects a balanced approach by the NDA in terms of caste, regional, and alliance considerations. Out of the 32 ministers, 15 are from the BJP, 13 from the JD-U, and two each from the Lok Janshakti Party and other parties. The swearing-in ceremony witnessed the presence of top NDA leaders, emphasizing the political significance of the event.
Political analysts view this Cabinet expansion not just as an administrative move but as a strategic effort by the NDA to fortify its social coalition and introduce generational changes ahead of the upcoming elections.
