Nishant Kumar is likely to be among the 27 ministers expected to take oath in the new Bihar Cabinet headed by Samrat Choudhary on Thursday, according to sources quoted by India Today TV. Nishant Kumar, who formally joined the Janata Dal (United) in March, is expected to make his first major political entry through the Cabinet expansion, a move being viewed as symbolically and politically significant within Bihar’s changing political landscape.
Samrat Choudhary became Bihar’s first BJP Chief Minister on April 15 after former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar stepped down and moved to the Rajya Sabha. The upcoming Cabinet expansion is expected to formally shape the new NDA-led government in the state while also reflecting political power-sharing arrangements among alliance partners.
According to sources, 12 of the 27 ministers likely to be sworn in are expected to belong to the JD(U), including Nishant Kumar. His possible induction into the Cabinet is being interpreted as a sign of a generational transition within the party and an attempt to position him more prominently in Bihar politics following Nitish Kumar’s gradual shift away from active state-level leadership.
Several senior JD(U) leaders are also expected to be part of the expanded Cabinet. These include Shravan Kumar, Ashok Choudhary, Leshi Singh, Madan Sahni, Zama Khan, Sunil Kumar, Sheela Mandal, Ratnesh Sada, Bulo Mandal, Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha and Damodar Rawat.
Sources also indicated that Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Vijay Choudhary have already taken oath as Deputy Chief Ministers in the new government setup. Their appointments are seen as part of efforts to maintain balance within the alliance and strengthen JD(U)’s role in the administration despite the BJP leading the government.
The Cabinet formation is expected to follow a carefully structured power-sharing formula among the NDA allies. According to reports, the Bharatiya Janata Party, being the single largest party in the alliance, may receive around 12 ministerial berths in the Cabinet. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is likely to secure three berths, while smaller allies such as the Hindustani Awam Morcha and the Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal may receive one ministerial berth each.
Among the BJP leaders reportedly under consideration for induction are Vijay Kumar Sinha, Mangal Pandey, Dilip Jaiswal, Shreyasi Singh, Arun Shankar Prasad, Lakhindra Paswan and Ram Kripal Yadav. Discussions regarding the final list are reportedly still ongoing.
From alliance partners, sources suggested that the LJP (RV) could induct leaders such as Sanjay Kumar and Sanjay Kumar Singh. Meanwhile, the HAM led by Jitan Ram Manjhi is likely to nominate Santosh Suman, while Deepak Prakash is expected to represent the RLJD in the Cabinet.
The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be held at Gandhi Maidan and is likely to be a large-scale political event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to arrive in Patna around 11:30 am on Thursday to attend the ceremony. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has already reached Patna and is reportedly involved in finalising the BJP’s ministerial list.
Senior BJP leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP national president J. P. Nadda, are also expected to attend the high-profile event. The scale of the ceremony is being seen as a major political show of strength by the NDA alliance following the recent political transition in Bihar.
The upcoming swearing-in marks a sharp contrast to the relatively low-profile oath-taking ceremony held on April 15, when Samrat Choudhary assumed office at Lok Bhawan while several senior BJP leaders were occupied with election campaigning elsewhere. This time, elaborate preparations, enhanced security arrangements and expectations of a large gathering at Gandhi Maidan indicate the NDA’s intention to project stability, unity and political confidence as the new government begins its tenure in Bihar.
