Patna: In a significant expansion of the provincial government, thirty-one new ministers were officially inducted into the Samrat Choudhary-led cabinet in Bihar on Thursday. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna, where Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) administered the oath of office to the new council members. This expansion marks a pivotal consolidation of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the province, bringing together representatives from all five constituent parties.
The event was attended by several high-ranking dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar. Their presence underscored the strategic importance of the cabinet reshuffle within the broader political landscape of the country. The new ministers represent a blend of experienced leaders and fresh faces, aimed at strengthening the administration’s reach and effectiveness across various sectors.
Among the most notable inductions was Nishant Kumar, the son of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has made a high-profile entry into the provincial executive. Other prominent figures joining the cabinet include former deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and veteran ministers Shrawon Kumar and Ashok Choudhary. The selection process focused on maintaining a balance between the primary alliance partners while ensuring that the smaller constituents of the NDA were also given due representation.
This administrative shift follows a major transition in Bihar’s leadership last month. The current BJP-led government was established after JD(U) president Nitish Kumar stepped down as chief minister to take up a role in the Rajya Sabha. He was succeeded by Samrat Choudhary, who made history as the first leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party to head a government in Bihar. Since taking office, Choudhary has worked to align the priorities of the coalition partners to ensure a cohesive governance model.
The current NDA coalition in Bihar consists of the BJP and JD(U), alongside the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) led by Chirag Paswan, the Hindustani Awam Morcha headed by Jitan Ram Manjhi, and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha led by Upendra Kushwaha. The induction of the new ministers is seen as a move to reward loyalty and expertise within these parties. As the newly formed council of ministers begins its tenure, the administration is expected to focus on development initiatives and maintaining political stability in the region.
