“Home Goes To BJP”: Nitish Kumar Reshapes Power Balance In Bihar
CM hands key Home portfolio to Deputy Samrat Choudhary in new NDA government structure
- Nitish Kumar drops Home Ministry after nearly 20 years, BJP takes charge
- Cabinet allocation marks BJP’s dominant role with 14 berths
- Analysts see move as start of succession planning in Bihar
- JDU retains CM post, key ministries distributed among allies
GG News Bureau
Patna, 21st Nov: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has allocated the crucial Home Ministry portfolio to the Bharatiya Janata Party in a major shift within the newly formed “Nitish Kumar 10.0” government. The decision marks a significant political recalibration, signalling the BJP’s stronger footing in the ruling alliance.
BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has taken charge of the Home Department — a portfolio held by Nitish Kumar for most of the past two decades. The shift, confirmed during Friday’s ministerial allocations, is being viewed as a strategic acknowledgment of the BJP’s status as the bigger partner in the state.
The BJP, which won 89 seats in the recent Assembly polls compared to the JDU’s 85, has secured 14 cabinet positions — including key departments such as Agriculture (Ram Kripal Yadav), Health and Law (Mangal Pandey), Labour (Sanjay Singh Tiger), Revenue and Mines (Vijay Sinha), Industries (Dilip Jaiswal) and SC/ST Welfare (Lakhendra Raushan).
JDU ministers have been allotted portfolios such as Social Welfare, Rural Works, Education, Energy, and Water Resources. Smaller NDA constituents — including LJP (Ram Vilas), HAM, and RLM — have also received departmental responsibilities.
Nitish Kumar’s decision to part with the Home Ministry is seen as a watershed moment in Bihar’s power structure. Political observers suggest it may indicate early succession planning, with the 57-year-old Samrat Choudhary emerging as a future leadership contender in the state.
Despite the shift, Nitish Kumar remains firmly in command, having taken oath as Chief Minister for the tenth time — extending his position as one of India’s longest-serving political leaders. Should he complete this term, he is expected to surpass former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling to become the country’s longest-serving CM in history.
As the alliance takes charge, focus now shifts to governance delivery in a state where law and order has often been a flashpoint — making the redistribution of ministerial responsibilities all the more politically consequential.
