On February 26, 2025, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expanded his cabinet, inducting seven new ministers—all from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—in a move that underscores the shifting dynamics within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as the state gears up for the October 2025 Assembly elections. The swearing-in ceremony, held at Raj Bhavan in Patna with Governor Arif Mohammed Khan administering the oaths, brought the cabinet to its maximum strength of 36 in the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly. Notably, no new ministers from Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) were included, signaling a bolstered BJP influence in the coalition.
The New Faces: Who Are the Seven Ministers?
The seven BJP MLAs elevated to ministerial positions reflect a mix of experience, regional representation, and caste calculus—key factors in Bihar’s complex political landscape. They are:
1. Sanjay Saraogi (Darbhanga): A fifth-term MLA and a prominent Marwari community leader, Saraogi took his oath in Maithili, emphasizing his Mithilanchal roots.
2. Sunil Kumar (Biharsharif): Representing Nitish Kumar’s home turf of Nalanda, this four-time MLA switched from JD(U) to BJP in 2015, bringing a Koeri caste perspective.
3. Jibesh Kumar (Jale): A Bhumihar and two-term MLA from Darbhanga, Kumar returns to the cabinet after a stint in the previous NDA government.
4. Raju Kumar Singh (Sahebganj): A Rajput, Singh won in 2020 on a Vikassheel Insan Party ticket before joining BJP in 2022, strengthening the party’s upper-caste base.
5. Moti Lal Prasad (Riga): From the Vaishya community, this two-term MLA hails from Sitamarhi, adding to the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) representation.
6. Vijay Kumar Mandal (Sikti): A five-time MLA from Araria, Mandal, from the Kewat EBC community, brings veteran experience to the cabinet.
7. Krishna Kumar Mantu (Amnour): A Kurmi from Saran, Mantu recently made headlines with his “Kurmi Chetna Rally,” aligning with Nitish Kumar’s own caste base.
Why These Picks? BJP’s Strategic Play
The selection of these ministers reveals a deliberate strategy by the BJP to solidify its foothold in Bihar. Six of the seven hail from north of the Ganges—a region where the NDA has historically outperformed the opposition RJD-Congress-Left combine. The exception, Sunil Kumar from Nalanda, taps into a JD(U) stronghold, subtly reinforcing BJP’s presence in Nitish’s backyard.
Caste dynamics, a perennial driver of Bihar politics, are front and center. The BJP has balanced upper castes (Jibesh Kumar’s Bhumihar and Raju Kumar Singh’s Rajput) with OBCs (Sunil Kumar’s Koeri and Krishna Kumar Mantu’s Kurmi) and EBCs (Moti Lal Prasad’s Vaishya and Vijay Kumar Mandal’s Kewat). This mix aims to broaden the party’s appeal across Bihar’s diverse electorate while maintaining its loyal upper-caste voter base, which, though only about 10% of the population, has been a BJP mainstay for decades.
The timing—months before the elections and just days before the Bihar Budget Session on February 28—suggests a dual purpose: to reward loyalists and project BJP dominance within the NDA. The resignation of BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal from his Revenue Minister post, adhering to the party’s “one person, one post” policy, paved the way for this expansion, further highlighting the party’s organizational discipline.
A Message to Nitish Kumar?
The exclusion of JD(U) ministers, despite earlier speculation of at least one inclusion, speaks volumes. With JD(U)’s quota already at 13 and BJP now holding 21 ministerial berths (including two deputy CMs), the cabinet expansion underscores BJP’s growing bargaining power. Political analysts see this as a calculated move to cement Nitish Kumar as the NDA’s CM face—keeping him content within the alliance—while subtly asserting BJP’s seniority after its stronger showing in the 2020 elections, where it outpaced JD(U) in seats.
This shift comes on the heels of high-level meetings, including one between Nitish Kumar and BJP president JP Nadda, and PM Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Bhagalpur. The BJP appears to be doubling down on its electoral strategy—balancing caste equations, rewarding regional strongholds, and expanding its influence in a state where it has historically relied on JD(U) to govern.
Looking Ahead
As Bihar heads toward the 2025 polls, this cabinet expansion sets the stage for a high-stakes contest. The BJP’s focus on development—echoed by the new ministers’ pledges—combined with its caste and regional playbook, aims to consolidate the NDA’s edge. For Nitish Kumar, the challenge will be maintaining his pivotal role as coalition linchpin while navigating an increasingly assertive ally. For now, the message is clear: the BJP is flexing its muscles, and Bihar’s political chessboard just got a lot more interesting.