A day after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expanded his cabinet by inducting seven new Ministers, the Bihar Chief Secretary’s office on Thursday (February 27, 2025) issued the notification allotting the portfolios to the new Minister.
Keeping the Assembly election in mind due later this year, Mr. Kumar has also reshuffled some departments.
The seven new BJP Ministers who took oath on Wednesday (February 26, 2025) include Raju Singh, Vijay Saraogi, Jivesh Mishra, Vijay Mandal, Sunil Kumar, Motilal Prasad and Krishna Kumar alias Mantu.
Darbhanga Sadar MLA Mr. Saraogi has been allotted Revenue and Land Reforms Department which was earlier occupied by Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Dilip Jaiswal who submitted his resignation on Wednesday before the oath-taking ceremony at Raj Bhavan.
Mr. Mishra, Jaale MLA has got the Urban Development and Housing Department, earlier this department was looked after by Nitin Nabin, who has now been given Road Construction Department.
Sunil Kumar, Biharsharif MLA has been given Environment, Forest and Climate Change whereas Sahebganj MLA Mr Singh has been allotted Tourism Department.
Riga MLA Mr. Prasad has been allotted Art, Culture and Youth Affairs Department whereas Mr. Mantu is offered Information Technology which was earlier occupied by Independent MLA Sumit Kumar Singh. Mr. Mandal has got the Disaster Management Department.
Making a balanced caste equation, out of seven four were from Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and one each from Bhumihar, Rajput and Extremely Backward Class (EBC).
Reshuffling has also been done in the cabinet, like the Road Construction Department which was earlier given to Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha will now be looked after by Mr. Nabin.
Prem Kumar who was earlier looking after the two departments is now left with only one department. The Agriculture department which was earlier occupied by Mangal Pandey along with the Health Department has now been given to Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha.
Bihar CM has also relieved Nitish Mishra who was looking after two departments – Industries and Tourism, instead of two he will only look after Industries department.
Similarly the departments of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader Santosh Kumar Suman who is also the son of Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has been reduced. Instead of three, he will now look after one department – Minor Water Resources.
No, reshuffle was carried out in the departments headed by the Janata Dal-(United) leaders.
The Cabinet has been expanded at the time when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by Mr. Kumar will present its last budget on March 3, before the assembly election scheduled in October-November.
In view of the election, Mr. Kumar has tried his best to include all sections of people, however people from Yadav community which is the largest block in OBC did not get any place in the new cabinet.
With the induction of seven new Ministers, the total strength of the Bihar cabinet has reached 36 with BJP occupying the maximum number of cabinet berths. Now the BJP has 21 ministers whereas Mr. Kumar’s JD-(U) has 13 one each from the HAM (S) and one independent.
