In a significant political development, Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar has once again taken oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar, marking another chapter in his nearly two-decade-long tenure. This comeback places him at the center of political discourse for his remarkable ability to overcome anti-incumbency sentiments spanning decades.
New Faces in the Nitish Kumar Cabinet
What has captured significant public attention is the composition of his new cabinet, which features ten first-time ministers. This diverse group includes a Commonwealth Games champion who transitioned into politics and close relatives of senior leaders from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The newly inducted ministers are Shreyasi Singh (BJP), Deepak Prakash (RLM), Rama Nishad (BJP), Ram Kripal Yadav (BJP), Arun Shankar Prasad (BJP), Lakhendra Kumar Raushan (BJP), Pramod Kumar (BJP), Sanjay Kumar Paswan (LJP-RV), Sanjay Kumar Singh (LJP-RV), and Sanjay Kumar Tiger (BJP).
Notable Appointments and Their Backgrounds
Among these new ministers, Shreyasi Singh stands out for her unique journey from the sports arena to the political stage. The 34-year-old from Jamui district, daughter of former Union minister the late Digvijay Singh, gained national fame by winning a gold medal in shooting at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia in the women's double trap event, along with a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. She entered politics before the 2020 assembly elections, contested on a BJP ticket, and emerged victorious. In the recent polls, she retained her seat with an impressive margin of over 54,000 votes, ultimately securing her position in the state cabinet.
Another surprising inclusion is Deepak Prakash, son of Rashtriya Lok Morcha president and former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha. A software engineer by profession, Prakash is not currently a member of either legislative house. According to his party, he has been actively involved in politics since 2019-20.
Rama Nishad, elected from the Aurai assembly constituency, also surprised political observers with her cabinet appointment despite being a first-time MLA. The daughter-in-law of former Union minister Capt Jai Narain Prasad Nishad, Rama joined the BJP just before the elections. Her political career began at the grassroots level as a ward councillor, eventually leading to her election as an MLA and now her elevation to minister.
Strategic Political Moves
Ram Kripal Yadav, who secured victory from Danapur by defeating jailed RJD leader Rit Lal Roy, also found a place in the Nitish Kumar cabinet. Having previously served as a Union minister in the Narendra Modi government, Yadav shifted to assembly politics after losing the last Lok Sabha election from the Patliputra seat. His inclusion is widely viewed as a strategic move by the NDA to penetrate the RJD's traditional Yadav vote bank.
The formation of this new cabinet with fresh faces represents a calculated blend of youth, diverse backgrounds, and strategic political considerations as Nitish Kumar begins another term governing one of India's most politically significant states.
