PATNA — In a historic moment for Bihar politics, Nitish Kumar took the oath of office as Chief Minister for the 10th time on Thursday, November 20, following a decisive mandate for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the 2025 assembly elections. The grand ceremony, held at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, marked a new chapter in Kumar’s enduring legacy as the state’s longest-serving leader.
Governor [Name would usually be inserted here, but keeping to source text limits] administered the oath to Kumar and 26 other ministers. The composition of the new council reflects a meticulous exercise in social engineering, designed to represent the state’s complex demographic fabric.
Strategic Social Engineering
The new cabinet underscores the NDA’s strategy to consolidate its diverse voter base. The selection of the 26 ministers reveals a conscious effort to balance representation across Upper Castes, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Dalits, and minority communities.
Cabinet Composition by Community:
- Dalit: 5 Ministers
- Rajput: 4 Ministers
- Kushwaha (Koeri): 3 Ministers
- Bhumihar: 2 Ministers
- Kurmi: 2 Ministers
- Vaishya/Bania: 2 Ministers
- Yadav: 2 Ministers
- Mallah/Nishad: 2 Ministers
- Brahmin: 1 Minister
- Kayastha: 1 Minister
- Muslim: 1 Minister
- EBC (Extremely Backward Class): 1 Minister
Key Inductions and Political Signaling
The cabinet lineup features a mix of seasoned veterans and influential community leaders.
Upper Caste Representation: The BJP has maintained strong upper-caste representation. Prominent inclusions are Nitin Nabin (Kayastha), representing the Bankipur constituency, and a strong Rajput contingent including Leshi Singh, Shreyasi Singh, Sanjay Tiger, and Sanjay Singh.
OBC and EBC Focus: Nitish Kumar, representing the Kurmi community from Nalanda, is joined by fellow community member Shravan Kumar. The BJP has also placed significant weight on the Kushwaha and Vaishya communities—traditional NDA strongholds—by inducting leaders like Samrat Chaudhary (Munger) and Dilip Jaiswal (Kishanganj).
Dalit and Marginalised Communities: In a strong signal regarding social justice, five berths were allocated to Dalit leaders. Key figures such as Ashok Chaudhary, Sunil Kumar, and Santosh Suman have been sworn in, ensuring that the voices of the state’s most marginalised sections remain central to the government’s agenda.
The Road Ahead
Political observers view this diverse cabinet structure as essential for the stability of the new government. By accommodating representatives from influential groups like the Yadavs and Nishads alongside its core base, the Nitish-led NDA aims to ensure smooth governance and broad-based public support for its upcoming term.
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