The Hindu reports: The Samrat Choudhary-led NDA cabinet in Bihar now has 35 members, including the Chief Minister and two Deputy CMs. In a total of 243-member State Legislative Assembly, the maximum number of Ministers could be 36. Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary proposes system where the children of Ministers and the poor study togetherMost of the Ministers of the previous Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar were retained.
Though some new faces, like Nishant Kumar (JD-U), Shweta Gupta (JD-U), Mithilesh Tiwari (BJP), and Shaliesh Kumar alias Bulo Mandal (JD-U), among others, were inducted into the new Cabinet.BJP leader Samrat Choudhary as Chief Minister of the State, the first Chief Minister from the saffron party, and two Deputy CMs — Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Vijay Kumar Choudhary — from JD-U had taken oath on April 15 at Patna’s Lok Bhawan.The highlight of the expansion was Nishant Kumar, son of Nitish Kumar, taking oath as a member of the new Cabinet. Nishant Kumar, however, had earlier expressed his reluctance to take the oath as one of the Deputy CMs of Bihar and said that he wanted to work on strengthening the party organisation first.On Sunday (May 3, 2026), he even set off his Sadbhav Yatra (goodwill journey) across Bihar from Bagaha in Champaran district and is scheduled to kick start his yatra’s second leg from Vaishali district on May 7.
Background
Before taking the oath as Minister in the new NDA cabinet, Nishant Kumar was seen touching the feet of his father on the dais. From the BJP’s side, senior party leader and several-time minister Mangal Pandey’s name was dropped, but he is said to be given a larger role in party’s organisation.The BJP-led government was formed last month when JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar resigned as Chief Minister, following his election to the Rajya Sabha, and was succeeded by Mr. Choudhary, the first saffron party leader to head the government in Bihar.
Key facts
- The Samrat Choudhary-led NDA cabinet in Bihar now has 35 members, including the Chief Minister and two Deputy CMs.
- In a total of 243-member State Legislative Assembly, the maximum number of Ministers could be 36.
- Before taking the oath as Minister in the new NDA cabinet, Nishant Kumar was seen touching the feet of his father on the dais.
What this means
Bihar political history timeline: 1990 to 2026Top NDA leaders, including PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, were present on the occasion. After reaching Patna, PM Modi was accorded a warm welcome by party leaders and supporters, including over a thousand saints and seers en route to Gandhi Maidan. BJP supporters and workers showered flower petals on PM Modi’s cavalcade from Patna airport to the Gandhi Maidan.
The State capital was decorated with saffron arches, billboards, cut-outs and posters of party leaders.Mr. Shah and other leaders had reached Patna on Wednesday (May 6, 2026) night and had a meeting with Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary for “last-minute” preparations of the list.
Originally reported by The Hindu. This story has been edited and re-presented by BRIC Team.
