The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar, led by Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, expanded its cabinet on Thursday, 7 May, with 32 ministers taking the oath of office at a grand ceremony held at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. The swearing-in drew a constellation of senior national leaders and marked one of the most politically significant events in the state this year.

Cabinet Composition

The expanded cabinet draws from across the NDA's Bihar alliance. 15 ministers represent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while 13 come from the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)]. The remaining four berths are shared between the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) with two ministers, and one each from Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha. Among the prominent new entrants is Nishant Kumar, son of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, whose inclusion underscores the continued political weight of the Kumar family in Bihar's governance landscape.

A Light-Hearted Moment on the Dais

Amid the formal proceedings, a brief and widely noticed mix-up added an informal touch to the otherwise solemn ceremony. During the first phase of the oath-taking, five ministers — Shravan Kumar, Vijay Kumar Sinha, Dilip Jaiswal, Nishant Kumar, and Leshi Singh — were invited together to take the oath and subsequently sign official documents at designated chairs arranged on the dais.

While Shravan Kumar and Vijay Kumar Sinha took their assigned seats without confusion, Nishant Kumar reportedly sat in the chair designated for Dilip Jaiswal. When Jaiswal approached to sign his papers, he found Nishant already seated there. According to those present, Jaiswal politely pointed out the mix-up and requested Nishant to move to the adjacent chair, where Nishant's own documents had been placed — which he promptly did.

The moment drew further attention when Nishant reportedly needed assistance locating the signature spaces on the documents. Dilip Jaiswal initially guided him on where to sign, and Leshi Singh was later seen helping him complete the formalities. The exchange drew smiles from leaders and attendees on the dais, briefly lightening the mood of an otherwise high-stakes political occasion.

Senior Leaders in Attendance

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, along with several senior NDA leaders. Chief Ministers from multiple states were also present. NDA Union Ministers from Bihar — including Chirag Paswan, Rajiv Ranjan Singh (alias Lalan Singh), Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha — attended the event.

Political Significance

The cabinet expansion consolidates the NDA's coalition arithmetic in Bihar ahead of what is expected to be a politically active period in the state. The inclusion of alliance partners across five parties signals an effort to maintain cohesion within a broad-based ruling front. With Nishant Kumar's entry into government, the next chapter of the Kumar family's role in Bihar politics will be closely watched by observers and rivals alike.