Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Bihar Cabinet in Patna on 7 May, confirming his presence via a post on social media platform X. The ceremony marks a significant milestone in Bihar politics following the recent transfer of the Chief Minister's post within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Rajnath Singh's Statement

Sharing his schedule on X, Singh wrote: "Tomorrow, 07th May, I shall be in Bihar to attend the swearing-in ceremony in Patna. Later in the evening, I shall be visiting Rajasthan to attend the Joint Commanders' Conference to be held in Jaipur. Looking forward." The minister's attendance signals the importance the central NDA leadership attaches to the Bihar Cabinet expansion.

Background: Power Transition in Bihar

The Cabinet expansion follows a pivotal shift in Bihar's political landscape. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Samrat Choudhary was sworn in as Chief Minister on 14 April, after former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar vacated the post. Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav of the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] were simultaneously sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers. The upcoming expansion will finalise the full distribution of portfolios across alliance partners.

Pre-Expansion Consultations

Ahead of the formal expansion, the NDA government held a crucial Cabinet meeting on 6 May at 5:00 pm in the Cabinet Hall at the Chief Secretariat, Patna, according to an official communication from the Information and Public Relations Department, Bihar. A press conference was scheduled at 6:00 pm at the Information Building to share key decisions with the media.

Extensive consultations preceded the expansion, including a key meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which reportedly played a decisive role in shaping the final ministerial list. Further consultations were held with NDA allies including Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh), Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Chirag Paswan, reflecting efforts to maintain coalition balance. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary also met JD(U) National President and former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a meeting widely interpreted as a signal of unity within the NDA ahead of the expansion.

What the Expansion Will Cover

According to sources, the Cabinet expansion is expected to reflect caste balance, regional representation, and inclusion of both experienced leaders and new faces from alliance partners — JD(U), BJP, LJP (Ram Vilas), HAM(S), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha. Governor Syed Ata Hasnain will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the newly-inducted ministers during the ceremony.

All eyes are now on the final number of ministries and the power-sharing agreement between the coalition partners, as Bihar's NDA government moves to consolidate its political footing.