Patna : Bihar marked a historic political milestone on Thursday as Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Chief Minister for a record tenth term. The grand ceremony, held at Patna’s iconic Gandhi Maidan, reaffirmed his enduring influence over state politics and strengthened the National Democratic Alliance’s mandate following its decisive electoral victory.
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan administered the oath of office to Kumar and 26 ministers who will form the new NDA government. Nitish Kumar’s return to the top post followed his resignation on November 19, a transition he has navigated several times during his long political journey. His initial term in 2000 lasted just eight days, but since his comeback in 2005, he has remained a central figure in Bihar’s governance, weathering political shifts and realigning alliances over the years.
The newly formed cabinet reflects the NDA’s commanding win in the Assembly polls, where the alliance secured 202 of 243 seats. The BJP won 89, JD(U) 85, LJP(RV) 19, HAM(S) 5, and RLM 4 seats, enabling a stable coalition government under Nitish Kumar’s leadership.
The 26 Ministers Who Took Oath
From BJP (14 ministers):
- Samrat Choudhary – Deputy Chief Minister
- Vijay Kumar Sinha – Deputy Chief Minister
- Dilip Jaiswal
- Mangal Pandey
- Ram Kripal Yadav
- Sanjay Singh Tiger
- Nitin Nabin
- Arun Shankar Prasad
- Surendra Mehta
- Narayan Prasad
- Rama Nishad
- Lakhendra Roshan
- Shreyashi Singh
- Pramod Kumar
From JD(U) (8 ministers):
15. Vijay Kumar Choudhary
16. Bijendra Prasad Yadav
17. Shravan Kumar
18. Ashok Choudhary
19. Md Zama Khan
20. Leshi Singh
21. Madan Sahni
22. Sunil Kumar
From Other NDA Allies (4 ministers):
23. Sanjay Kumar – LJP (Ram Vilas)
24. Sanjay Kumar Singh – LJP (Ram Vilas)
25. Deepak Prakash – Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM)
26. Santosh Kumar Suman – Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM)
This cabinet lineup represents a broad social and regional mix, balancing experienced leaders with emerging political figures across all major alliance partners.
A Ceremony Graced by National Leaders
The swearing-in ceremony drew a strong national presence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP national president JP Nadda attended the event, underlining the political significance of the moment. Chief ministers from several states were also present, including:
- Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh)
- Rekha Gupta (Delhi)
- Nayab Singh Saini (Haryana)
- Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam)
- Neiphiu Rio (Nagaland)
Their attendance added weight to the ceremony and showcased the NDA’s united front across state and national leadership.
Looking Ahead
With Nitish Kumar at the helm once again and a full 26-member council supporting him, Bihar enters a new phase of governance. Portfolio allocations are expected soon, after which the government will begin implementing its development roadmap, focusing on infrastructure, welfare, employment generation, and administrative reform.
As Nitish Kumar embarks on his tenth term, the new cabinet’s cohesion and performance will be crucial in shaping Bihar’s progress over the next five years.
