Bihar Cabinet: 17 new Ministers inducted; BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain is new Industry Minister

On Tuesday, 17 more Ministers- 9 from BJP and 8 from JD(U) were inducted in Bihar Cabinet at Raj Bhavan in Patna in presence of CM Nitish Kumar. When Kumar was sworn-in as CM for 7th time on vember 16, 2020, only 13 or Ministers were administered oath of office and secrecy. This included Deputy Chief Ministers Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi, Bihar JD(U) president Ashok Choudhary, BJP MLC Mangal Pandey, HAM(S) supremo's son Santosh Kumar Suman and VIP chief Mukesh Sahani. 

As part of latest Cabinet expansion, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, Nitin Nabin, Pramod Kumar, late actor Sushant Singh Rajput's cousin Neeraj Kumar Singh Bablu, Samrat Choudhary, Janak Ram, Alok Ranjan Jha, Subhash Singh and Narayan Prasad have been inducted from BJP's quota. A former MP, Janak Ram is t a member of any House of Bihar Legislature as of w. On or hand, new JD(U) Ministers include Sanjay Jha, Shravan Kumar,  Leshi Singh, Jayant Raj, Jama Khan, Sumit Singh, Sunil Kumar and Madan Sahni.

As per new portfolio allocation, CM is in charge of Home Department while Tarkishore Prasad has retained Finance.  Panchayati Raj portfolio will w be handled by Samrat Choudhary instead of Renu Devi. BSP-turned-JD(U) legislator Jama Khan has been allocated Mirity Affairs portfolio. On or hand, former Union Minister and BJP national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain has been appointed as Industry Minister. Moreover, Neeraj Kumar Singh Bablu and Mangal Pandey will serve as Environment and Health Minister respectively. 

Read: Bihar Cabinet Expansion: Dissatisfied BJP MLA Gyanendra Singh Revolts; Makes Allegations

Portfolio allocation in Bihar

Read: Bihar Farmers Being Held Back Because Of Lack Of Organisations: Tariq Anwar

JD(U)'s reduced clout after Bihar polls

2020 Bihar Assembly election witnessed a voter turut of 57.05% as against that of 56.66% in 2015 polls.  polls turned out to be a nail-biting contest with NDA emerging victorious in 125 seats as against that of 110 seats won by Mahagatbandhan. BJP, RJD, JD(U), Congress won 74, 75, 43, and 19 seats respectively. With 4 seats each, VIP and HAM (S) had a crucial role to play in ruling alliance breaching majority mark.

Similarly, AIMIM made a huge mark in Bihar politics as 5 of its candidates were declared winners. BJP winning more seats than JD(U) for first time in a Bihar Assembly election led to speculation that JD(U)'s clout in alliance will reduce. LJP, who lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and targeted Nitish Kumar throughout election campaign, is believed to have damd JD(U)'s prospects in 32 seats despite bagging a solitary seat. 

Read: Bihar Assembly Building Completes 100 Yrs; Nitish Tells Ruling Members y Are 'sevaks' And t 'maalik'