The Nitish Kumar-led NDA government expanded its cabinet on Wednesday. Seven BJP MLAs took the oath as ministers in a ceremony administered by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. The newly inducted ministers are Sanjay Saraogi, Sunil Kumar, Jibesh Mishra, Motilal Prasad, Krishan Kumar Mantoo, Raju Kumar Singh, and Vijay Kumar Mandal. The cabinet expansion is seen as a strategic move to strengthen the BJP’s presence in the state government ahead of the crucial polls.
The move comes months before the state assembly election, expected in October or November.
This is the second cabinet expansion. The first took place in March 2024 before the Lok Sabha election announcement, when 21 ministers were sworn in. With the latest expansion, the Bihar Cabinet now has 30 members, including 15 from the BJP, 13 from the Janata Dal (United), one from the Hindustani Awam Morcha, and an Independent. Six positions remain vacant.
Political analysts see the expansion as an effort to broaden representation in the government before the crucial election. However, media reports suggest the new ministers may serve for only eight to nine months if elections take place as scheduled.
Earlier in the day, BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal announced his resignation as revenue minister. He cited the party’s "one person, one post" principle as the reason for stepping down. Jaiswal expressed gratitude to the central leadership for entrusting him with the role of state party chief.
Meanwhile, speculation is growing over Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, entering politics. Calls for his political debut have intensified, with his maternal uncle and other relatives supporting the idea. However, JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar said the final decision rests with the chief minister.