Daijiworld Media Network - Patna
Patna, Feb 26: In a strategic move preceding the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expanded his cabinet on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, by inducting seven new ministers from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Raj Bhavan in Patna, where Governor Arif Mohammad Khan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers. This expansion raises the total strength of the Bihar cabinet to 37 members.
The newly appointed ministers are:
• Sanjay Saraogi: Five-term MLA from Darbhanga Town, representing the Marwari community. Notably, he took his oath in Maithili.
• Dr. Sunil Kumar: Five-term MLA from Bihar Sharif, hailing from the Koeri caste. He was previously associated with the JD(U) before joining the BJP in 2015.
• Jibesh Kumar Mishra: MLA from Jale, belonging to the Bhumihar community. This marks his second tenure as a minister. He also took his oath in Maithili.
• Raju Kumar Singh: MLA from Sahebganj in Muzaffarpur, representing the Rajput caste. Singh has been affiliated with parties like the Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) before joining the BJP.
• Motilal Prasad: MLA from Riga in Sitamarhi, a member of the Vaishya community.
• Krishna Kumar Mantu: MLA from Amnour in Saran district, belonging to the Kurmi caste. He recently organized a significant 'Kurmi Chetna Rally' in Patna.
• Vijay Kumar Mandal: MLA from Sikti in Araria district, representing the Kewat community, categorized under the extremely backward classes.
This cabinet expansion is seen as a strategic move to balance regional and caste representations ahead of the elections scheduled for October-November 2025. The inclusion of members from diverse communities aims to strengthen the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) position in the state.
Earlier in the day, Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal resigned from his ministerial post, adhering to the party's 'One Person, One Post' policy. Jaiswal, who held the Revenue and Land Reforms portfolio, stated, "I am going to resign from the post of revenue minister. 'One person, one post' is the principle on which the party works."
With this expansion, the BJP's representation in the cabinet has increased from 16 to 22 ministers, while the JD(U) maintains 13 ministers, including the Chief Minister. Additionally, one minister each from the Hindustani Awam Morcha and an independent MLA are part of the cabinet.
The newly inducted ministers have expressed their commitment to advancing the developmental agenda of the government. Senior BJP MLA Jibesh Kumar Mishra emphasized the limited time before the elections and urged collective efforts towards development. Minister Raju Kumar Singh thanked the party for its confidence in him and pledged to work with full dedication. Similarly, Minister Sanjay Saraogi assured that they would fulfill their responsibilities with honesty and commitment.
This cabinet reshuffle underscores the NDA's strategy to fortify its governance and outreach in Bihar as the state approaches the assembly elections.