Several leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were sworn into the Bihar Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary in Patna on Thursday, 7 May, with the new ministers expressing gratitude to their respective party leaderships and pledging to serve the people with honesty and dedication.

Key Inductees and Their Reactions

Nishant Kumar, son of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and a Janata Dal (United) leader, was among the new entrants. "I will try to live up to the trust that the senior leaders have reposed in me," he said. "I have the blessings of the people and the support of party workers. I have been entrusted with a responsibility and will work with pure intentions and complete honesty," he added.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ram Kripal Yadav thanked the NDA leadership, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for what he described as a "great responsibility". He noted his prior experience in the state's Agriculture Department and said he would work diligently in whichever portfolio is assigned to him.

Experienced Hands Return to Cabinet

Former Bihar BJP president Dilip Kumar Jaiswal, who had earlier served as a minister, said the party's central leadership had once again placed its trust in him. He outlined the new government's priorities as employment generation for youth, infrastructure development, and maintaining law and order. Notably, Jaiswal also expressed hope that both the government and the Opposition would collaborate for Bihar's development.

JD-U leader Leshi Singh achieved a rare milestone by taking oath as a minister for the eighth time, thanking party supremo Nitish Kumar for continuing to place his trust in her. Her repeated induction underscores the JD-U's enduring influence within the Bihar NDA coalition.

Allies Voice Support for Developed Bihar Vision

Lok Jan Shakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Sanjay Kumar Singh thanked party president Chirag Paswan and Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary for the opportunity. Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S) leader Santosh Kumar Suman echoed similar sentiments, stating: "We will make every possible effort to fully discharge the responsibility that has been entrusted to us."

What the Expansion Signals

The Cabinet expansion reflects the NDA's effort to balance representation across its constituent parties — BJP, JD-U, LJP (Ram Vilas), and HAM-S — ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. The inclusion of Nishant Kumar, son of the influential Nitish Kumar, is particularly significant, signalling a generational transition within the JD-U. With priorities centred on youth employment, infrastructure, and law and order, the new Cabinet faces the immediate challenge of translating political pledges into measurable governance outcomes.