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Bihar’s new government has taken a dramatic turn as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar handed over the powerful Home Department to his alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), marking one of the biggest shifts in the state’s political landscape in recent years. The Home Ministry, traditionally controlled by Nitish Kumar himself for almost two decades, will now be managed by Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary of the BJP.
This change comes just a day after Nitish Kumar took oath for a record tenth time as Chief Minister. The quick announcement of portfolio distribution and the handover of such a crucial ministry to the BJP shows a new balance of power within the NDA government in Bihar.
BJP Gets Major Power Boost in New Cabinet
With the Home Department moving to the BJP, the party now holds control over Bihar’s law and order, policing, internal security, and crime administration. This is a significant political victory for the BJP, which performed strongly in the state elections and emerged as the single largest party.
Besides Home, several other important departments have been allocated to BJP leaders, strengthening the party’s influence across key areas of governance such as revenue, industries, law, health, social welfare, and more.
Political observers believe this indicates that the BJP will now play a much larger role in running the government, while Nitish Kumar and his party, JD(U), will focus more on leadership and oversight rather than direct operational control.
What Nitish Kumar Has Kept Under His Control
Nitish, while handing over the Home Ministry, has retained departments like:
- General Administration
- Cabinet Secretariat
- Vigilance
These departments allow him to maintain tight supervision over bureaucratic appointments, administrative decisions, and internal government functioning. Analysts say this balance allows Nitish to remain the strategic head of the government even as the BJP takes on operational power in critical ministries.
Why This Shift Matters
The Home Department is one of the most sensitive and powerful ministries in any state. It oversees:
- Police forces
- Crime control
- VIP security
- Prisons
- Disaster response
- Intelligence and internal security
By giving this portfolio to the BJP, Nitish Kumar has signaled a major shift in how the NDA government in Bihar will function. It also highlights the BJP’s growing influence and its long-term positioning in state politics.
Is This Grooming a Future Leader?
Many political analysts believe that giving Samrat Choudhary the Home Ministry may be part of a larger political plan. It could indicate that he is being prepared for a bigger leadership role in the coming years. His elevation as Deputy CM and now Home Minister places him at the center of Bihar’s political decision-making.
Impact on Governance and Public Expectations
For the people of Bihar, this power shift means that the BJP will now directly shape policies related to:
- Law and order
- Anti-crime strategies
- Police modernisation
- Public safety
- Handling major crises
The next few months will show how efficiently the new team works together and whether this new distribution improves governance stability and public confidence.
A New Chapter Begins in Bihar Politics
This cabinet allocation marks more than just distribution of ministries—it represents the evolving political equation between JD(U) and BJP. It also sets the tone for how the NDA plans to govern in the coming years, balancing power-sharing with performance delivery. For now, Bihar enters a new chapter with the BJP holding unprecedented control over crucial departments and Nitish Kumar steering the overall governance as the experienced leader at the top.
