Indians Daily

The Bihar cabinet expansion took place on Wednesday, with seven new members from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) joining Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government. This development carries significant political weight as the state gears up for assembly elections later this year.

With these inductions, the total number of ministers in the Bihar government has risen to 36, reaching the constitutional limit for a state assembly with 243 members. The newly inducted MLAs include Sanjay Saraogi (Darbhanga), Sunil Kumar (Biharsharif), Jibesh Kumar (Jale), Raju Kumar Singh (Sahebganj), Moti Lal Prasad (Riga), Vijay Kumar Mandal (Sikti), and Krishna Kumar Mantoo (Amnour).

The oath-taking ceremony was administered by Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan. The timing of this expansion is particularly noteworthy, coming just two days before the Bihar Budget Session commences on Friday.

BJP Leadership Shift and Cabinet Reshuffle

Meanwhile, Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal announced his resignation from the Nitish Kumar cabinet. Jaiswal, who previously held the Revenue Department portfolio, stated that his decision aligns with the party’s “one person, one post” principle. “I am grateful to the central leadership for entrusting me with the responsibility of the party’s state unit. Cabinet expansion is the prerogative of the Chief Minister,” Jaiswal said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

This reshuffle follows high-level discussions between Union Minister JP Nadda and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The expansion comes after prolonged deliberations that had previously stalled.

New Entrants to the Cabinet

Among the newly inducted ministers, Jibesh Kumar is a familiar face, having served in the state cabinet until August 2022. His tenure was cut short when the Chief Minister exited the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), citing alleged attempts by the BJP to destabilize the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)].

Other notable inductees include:

• Sanjay Saraogi, a five-term MLA from Darbhanga.

• Sunil Kumar, a legislator from Bihar Sharif, a key constituency in Nalanda, the home district of the Chief Minister. He was previously elected three times on a JD(U) ticket before joining the BJP in 2015.

• Raju Kumar Singh, representing Sahebganj in Muzaffarpur, who initially won on a Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) ticket, a party founded by former Bollywood set designer Mukesh Sahni.

• Krishna Kumar Mantoo, the Amnour MLA from Saran district, recently in the spotlight for organizing a “Kurmi Chetna Rally” in Patna, aimed at consolidating support within the influential OBC Kurmi community, to which the JD(U) leader belongs.

• Vijay Kumar Mandal, representing Sikti in Araria district.

• Moti Lal Prasad, MLA from Riga in Sitamarhi.

Strategic Political Calculations

The BJP’s approach to cabinet expansion appears to be a calculated move to consolidate its voter base. The timing of the reshuffle follows a high-level meeting chaired by the BJP’s national president, highlighting the party’s strategic planning ahead of the upcoming elections.

With this reshuffle, the BJP aims to strengthen its foothold in Bihar while ensuring broader representation across key constituencies. As the state heads towards the assembly polls, the political landscape continues to evolve, with alliances and power dynamics playing a pivotal role in shaping Bihar’s future governance.