Bihar's New NDA Government To Convene First Cabinet Meeting Following Political Realignment

The newly formed NDA government in Bihar is holding its inaugural cabinet meeting on Monday, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar presiding over the gathering in Patna. Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha, along with other ministers, are expected to participate in discussions that may include decisions on key appointments and the upcoming assembly session.

One of the notable agenda items for the first cabinet meeting is the appointment of the Advocate General, a decision likely to shape the legal landscape in the state. Additionally, the cabinet is expected to seek approval for convening the upcoming assembly session, setting the stage for legislative proceedings.

The meeting follows Nitish Kumar's dramatic departure from the Mahagathbandhan alliance, cutting ties with the Opposition-backed INDIA bloc, and reestablishing the alliance with the BJP-led NDA. After resigning as the Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar was sworn in for a record ninth term as the Chief Minister of the Janata Dal (United)-BJP combine.

In the newly constituted cabinet, Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha will join ministers including BJP's Prem Kumar, JD(U) leaders Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Shravan Kumar, and Vijendra Yadav, HAM leader Santosh Kumar Suman, and Independent MLA Sumit Kumar Singh.

While Nitish Kumar, Samrat Chaudhary, and Santosh Kumar Suman are Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs), Nitish Kumar announced on Sunday that the Bihar cabinet would see further expansion in the coming days, taking various factors into consideration.

Caste Dynamics In Cabinet Formation

The composition of the new cabinet appears to reflect the NDA's strategy to balance caste considerations. With an eye on appeasing OBCs while retaining support from the core upper caste base, the cabinet includes three upper caste ministers—Vijay Choudhary and Vijay Sinha from the Bhumihar community, and Sumit Kumar Singh (Independent) from the Rajput community. Shravan Kumar, a JD(U) leader, hails from the Kurmi caste, the same as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while Santosh Kumar Suman represents the Mahadalit community.

Recent caste surveys in Bihar highlight the political significance of these considerations, with Kurmis constituting 2.8 per cent of the state's total population.

The Bihar cabinet can have a maximum of 35 ministers, and the recent swearing-in ceremony saw the induction of eight ministers, excluding Nitish Kumar. The upcoming cabinet expansion is anticipated to address various aspects of governance and political representation in the state.