Patna: Caste balance has once again emerged as a key factor in the formation of the new government in Bihar, which was sworn in at the historic Gandhi Maidan on Thursday.
Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Chief Minister for the 10th time, and the new cabinet includes a total of 26 ministers from various NDA constituents – 14 from the BJP, eight from the JD(U), two from the LJP(RV), and one each from the RLM and HAM.
In the previous cabinet, senior BJP leaders Mangal Pandey and Nitish Mishra were from the Brahmin community. However, this time the BJP has reduced the Brahmin quota, retaining only Mangal Pandey. No Brahmin MLA from the JD(U) has been given a ministerial position, marking a major shift in caste dynamics.
The BJP has given significant importance to the Rajput community, which has traditionally been its core support base.
Four ministers from this caste group – Sanjay Tiger, Shreyasi Singh, Leshi Singh, and Sanjay Singh – have been included.
This is a strategic effort to strengthen Rajput support in the state.
Two prominent leaders—Vijay Kumar Sinha and Vijay Chaudhary—have been inducted from the Bhumihar community, which wields considerable political influence in Bihar.
Nitin Naveen, from the Kayastha community, has been inducted into the cabinet. He is considered a prominent face of the BJP, especially in Patna and other urban areas.
OBCs remain the largest social bloc in Bihar politics, and the cabinet reflects this demographic reality.
Samrat Chaudhary (Kushwaha/Koeri)—Deputy Chief Minister; Deepak Prakash (Kushwaha)—represents the political legacy of Upendra Kushwaha; Ram Kripal Yadav and Vijendra Prasad Yadav represent the Yadav community, which has traditionally been associated with the RJD; Shravan Kumar (Kurmi), a longtime associate of Nitish Kumar and representative of the JD(U)’s core support base; and Pramod Kumar (Chandravanshi/OBC)—further enhance OBC representation.
By including two Yadav ministers, the NDA has deliberately attempted to send a message to the community that it seeks a broader social engagement beyond its traditional vote bank.
The NDA has given strong representation to the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), who have played a key role in its electoral success.
Ministers in the Nitish Kumar government’s cabinet include Surendra Mehta (Dhanuk), Rama Nishad (Nishad/Mallah), Madan Sahni (Mallah), Lakhendra Kumar Roshan (Paswan), Sunil Kumar (Ravidas), Santosh Kumar Suman (Manjhi community), and Sanjay Kumar (Paswan).
This large representation demonstrates the NDA’s continued efforts to maintain its hold among the EBCs.
By including Mohammad Jama Khan in the cabinet, the NDA has attempted to convey a message of inclusion to the Muslim community.
Although symbolic in terms of numbers, this move has political significance in the current circumstances.
Nitish Kumar forms a balanced cabinet, includes 26 faces from different communities
