Nitish Kumar's New Bihar Cabinet: Key Highlights

Nitish Kumar has officially taken oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the 10th time, marking a significant political event in the state. With him, 26 other ministers were sworn in during a grand ceremony held at Patna's Gandhi Maidan, attended by prominent leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The newly formed cabinet is part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and reflects a mix of various political parties.

The cabinet comprises a total of 27 members, which includes three women ministers. Among them are former minister Leshi Singh from the Janata Dal (United) and newcomers Shreyashi Singh and Rama Nishad from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Importantly, Zama Khan from JD(U) remains the sole Muslim representative, ensuring some level of diversity in the cabinet.

As of now, the allocation of portfolios for the ministers will be made public soon, adding to the anticipation surrounding the new cabinet's functioning. The presence of top political figures at the oath-taking ceremony underscores the importance of this new alliance in Bihar's governance.

The cabinet's composition showcases a variety of caste representations, which is pivotal in a diverse state like Bihar. There are eight ministers from upper castes, including Rajputs and Bhumihars, while other backward classes (OBCs) and extremely backward classes (EBCs) are also represented. This mix aims to address the interests of various communities, reflecting the social fabric of Bihar.

With nine additional cabinet berths to be filled later, the total will reach the constitutionally mandated limit of 36. The balance of power within this cabinet will be closely observed, especially given Bihar's complex political landscape where caste dynamics play a crucial role.

As the new government settles in, all eyes will be on how effectively it will engage with the issues facing the state, especially in terms of development and social welfare. The coming days will reveal how the cabinet members will align their agendas to serve the people of Bihar.