Nishant Kumar formally entered Bihar’s administrative frontline after taking charge as Health Minister amid the NDA government’s large-scale cabinet expansion in Patna.
JD(U) leader Nishant Kumar | IANS
Janata Dal (United) leader Nishant Kumar on Friday formally assumed charge as Bihar’s new Health Minister, marking the beginning of his ministerial innings days after his induction into the NDA government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
The development has drawn political attention not only because Nishant Kumar is the son of former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, but also because it signals the JD(U)’s attempt to position a new leadership face within the state cabinet after the NDA’s sweeping return to power.
Advertisement
Speaking to reporters after taking charge, Nishant Kumar said his priority would be to improve healthcare delivery across Bihar.
Advertisement
“I will try to fulfil my responsibility with complete truthfulness and honesty. I will try to provide better health facilities,” he said.
The JD(U) leader was among the prominent names inducted into the expanded Bihar cabinet earlier this week. His entry into active politics had been under discussion within political circles for months, especially after Nitish Kumar stepped away from the chief minister’s post.
Reacting to Nishant Kumar getting the Health portfolio, JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha said the former chief minister had consciously kept his son away from politics for over two decades.
“Nitish Kumar didn’t bring him into politics for twenty-one years. When he himself left the post of Chief Minister, people in the party felt he was needed, so he joined the party and started working,” Jha told reporters.
He further said, “As long as Nitish Kumar was Chief Minister of Bihar, I don’t think the people of Bihar even knew Nishant ji properly.”
Backing the decision to hand him the Health Department, Jha expressed confidence in Nishant Kumar’s leadership.
“I believe that under his leadership, there will be good work in the health department. This is such a large state with such a large population, and excellent work will be done,” he added.
The Bihar government on Thursday carried out a major cabinet expansion, with 32 ministers taking oath at a ceremony held at Gandhi Maidan in Patna.
The expansion came after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance formed the government in the state following the Assembly elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and several senior NDA leaders attended the swearing-in ceremony.
As part of the cabinet formation, ministers from the BJP, JD(U), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha were inducted into the Council of Ministers.
Separately, BJP leader Dilip Jaiswal also took charge as Bihar’s new Revenue and Land Reforms Minister on Friday and promised strict action against corruption and delays in public services.
Calling the department “challenging”, Jaiswal said transparency and timely delivery of services would remain his key priorities.
“Seventy per cent of Bihar’s population depends on the Revenue Department, and my goal will be to ensure that these services are provided with honesty and transparency. Wrongdoers will not be spared at any cost,” he said.
Advertisement
