Nitish Kumar Retains Chief Minister Post, Hands Home Ministry to Samrat Choudhary

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, sworn in for a record tenth term on November 20, 2025, following the Janata Dal (United)-led NDA's sweeping victory in the state assembly elections, has introduced a seismic shift in his new cabinet by relinquishing the Home Department—a portfolio he has tightly controlled since November 2005—to BJP Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. The allocation, announced late on Friday, November 21, underscores the delicate power-sharing dynamics within the NDA coalition, where the BJP, with 89 seats, emerged as the single largest party, just four ahead of JDU's 85.

This marks the first time in nearly two decades that Kumar has ceded the Home Ministry, often dubbed the "most prized" department for its oversight of law enforcement, intelligence, and internal security, signalling a gesture of trust toward his alliance partner amid post-poll negotiations. The 26-member cabinet, expanded from an initial 21 to accommodate smaller allies like the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Hindustani Awam Morcha, reflects Kumar's strategy to balance regional influences while prioritising key economic and welfare sectors.

Under the finalised distribution, Choudhary not only assumes Home but also Finance and Commercial Taxes, positioning him as a linchpin in fiscal policy and state revenues, while the other Deputy CM, Vijay Kumar Sinha, takes Revenue and Land Reforms alongside Mines and Geology—departments critical for land acquisition drives and mineral resource management in Bihar's agrarian economy. BJP heavyweights like Mangal Pandey secure Health and Law & Justice, addressing perennial challenges in public healthcare and judicial backlogs; Dilip Jaiswal returns to Industries to spearhead investment inflows; Ram Kripal Yadav handles Agriculture, vital for Bihar's 70% rural workforce; and Sanjay Singh gets Labour, focusing on migrant worker welfare. Smaller NDA partners fare well too: LJP(R)'s Chirag Paswan faction bags Sugarcane Industries and Public Health Engineering, HAM receives Water Resources, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha gets Panchayati Raj, ensuring grassroots representation. Kumar retains core departments like General Administration, Vigilance, and Disaster Management, maintaining his grip on governance oversight.

This reconfiguration breaks from Kumar's historical playbook, where retaining Home allowed him to micromanage police and administrative machinery, often credited with curbing caste-based violence and enabling his "Sushasan" (good governance) brand that propelled NDA's 2025 triumph—securing 164 of 243 seats against the Mahagathbandhan's 79. The handover to Choudhary, a fiery OBC leader and former state BJP chief, is seen as a concession to BJP's growing clout post its 2020 alliance rupture and 2024 reconciliation, potentially easing central fund flows for projects like the promised seven motorways and the 1 crore "Lakhpati Didis" scheme for women entrepreneurs. Yet, it raises eyebrows among JDU loyalists, who view it as diluting Kumar's authority at 74, especially with whispers of succession planning for his son Nishant. Analysts note the move aligns with NDA's unified front against opposition resurgence but could test coalition chemistry if BJP pushes aggressive Hindutva agendas in a state rife with caste arithmetic.

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As Bihar's new government settles in, the portfolio shuffle sets the stage for rapid policy execution on election promises, from mega skill centres to metro rail in four cities, amid economic headwinds like 7.5% unemployment and flood-prone infrastructure. With eight portfolios still pending announcement, including for Education and Energy, the full cabinet will soon be operational, but Kumar's Home concession remains the headline—a pragmatic pivot that fortifies the NDA's Bihar fortress while reminding stakeholders of the 74-year-old engineer's enduring tactical acumen in India's most politically volatile state.

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