Patna: Nishant Kumar, the son of former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has officially agreed to join the provincial administration led by Samrat Choudhary. The 45-year-old engineering graduate is set to take his oath during a significant cabinet expansion scheduled for this Thursday. Sources close to the administration suggest that Nishant, who formally joined the JD(U) less than two months ago, finally yielded to the persistent persuasions of senior party functionaries. Although he was reportedly considered for a Deputy Chief Minister role as early as last month, he had initially declined the offer, expressing a desire to establish himself as a grassroots party worker before assuming a formal ministerial post.
The entry of Nishant Kumar into active governance marks a new chapter in Bihar’s shifting political landscape. This transition follows his father’s recent decision to step down from the Chief Minister’s office after being elected to the Rajya Sabha. In the ensuing reorganization, BJP leader Samrat Choudhary was installed as the head of the government, supported by veteran JD(U) figures Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, who currently serve as Deputy Chief Ministers. The upcoming swearing-in ceremony is being viewed as a pivotal moment for the alliance, particularly as it celebrates the BJP’s first time leading a government in the state.
The event is expected to be a high-profile affair with a significant national presence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President Nitin Nabin are all slated to attend the function. This expansion will likely see roughly a dozen JD(U) leaders inducted into the cabinet. Party officials have indicated a goal of securing up to 16 ministerial positions out of a maximum of 30 allowed in the 243-member assembly. Prominent returning figures from the previous cabinet, including Ashok Choudhary, Shrawan Kumar, and Leshi Singh, are widely expected to be part of the new lineup.
In addition to the JD(U) and BJP, the expanded cabinet is anticipated to feature a broad representative base from other allied parties. This includes representatives from Chirag Paswan’s LJPRV and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM, both of whom currently serve as Union ministers. The coalition is also expected to include Upendra Kushwaha’s RLM, further consolidating the alliance’s strength within the state legislature. This strategic cabinet reshuffle aims to balance regional interests while solidifying the partnership between the various factions of the ruling coalition ahead of future political challenges.
