In a significant political development ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expanded his Cabinet on Wednesday, inducting seven new ministers, all from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This long-awaited expansion was approved after consultations between BJP national president JP Nadda and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, just two days before the commencement of the Assembly’s Budget session.
Bihar Cabinet Reaches Maximum Strength
With this expansion, the Bihar Cabinet now comprises 36 ministers, including the Chief Minister, reaching the maximum permissible limit for the state, which has a 243-member Assembly. This marks the first time since 2005 that the Bihar government has operated at full ministerial capacity.
BJP Strengthens Hold in Cabinet
BJP, the senior partner in the alliance, now holds 21 ministerial positions, while Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] has 13 ministers. The Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) retains one ministerial berth, and the state also has one Independent minister. This expansion is seen as BJP consolidating its position within the alliance as Bihar moves closer to the upcoming elections.
Reshuffling Amid Political Strategy
The Cabinet expansion follows the resignation of state BJP chief Dilip Kumar Jaiswal from his post as Land and Revenue Minister. His decision was in line with the BJP’s “one person, one post” policy, reinforcing the party’s organizational discipline and paving the way for new faces in the government.
With just eight months left before the Assembly elections, this move is being viewed as a strategic effort by the ruling alliance to strengthen its governance and electoral prospects. Political analysts suggest that the BJP’s increased representation in the Cabinet could play a crucial role in shaping the party’s electoral strategy and voter outreach in the state.
As the newly inducted ministers assume their responsibilities, all eyes will be on the Bihar government’s performance in the months leading up to the crucial elections.
