CM Nitish Kumar expands Bihar cabinet, inducts seven BJP ministers

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expanded his cabinet on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, by inducting seven BJP MLAs into the state government.

The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Raj Bhavan, where Governor Arif Mohammad Khan administered the oath of office to the new ministers. With this expansion, the total strength of the Bihar Cabinet has now risen to 36.

#WATCH | Patna | Bihar Cabinet expansion | BJP MLA from Darbhanga, Sanjay Saraogi takes oath as Bihar minister pic.twitter.com/L3W8o9fFX7

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2025

The newly inducted ministers include Raju Singh, Vijay Saravgi, Jivesh Mishra, Vijay Mandal, Sunil Kumar, Motilal Prasad, and Krishna Kumar alias Mantu. Among them, four belong to the OBC category, while one each represents the Bhumihar, Rajput, and EBC communities.

#WATCH | BJP MLAs Jibesh Kumar and Raju Kumar Singh take oath as Bihar ministers as CM Nitish Kumar expands his Cabinet pic.twitter.com/oWG1rRAtDm

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2025

Earlier in the day, Bihar BJP chief and minister Dilip Jaiswal resigned from his post. Following the cabinet reshuffle, the BJP now has 15 ministers, including two Deputy Chief Ministers, while JD(U) has 13 ministers.

The Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), led by Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, holds one ministerial position, along with an Independent minister, Sumit Kumar Singh.

The Bihar cabinet was last expanded on March 15, 2024, when 21 ministers—nine from Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and 12 from the BJP—were sworn in.

This came 46 days after Kumar rejoined the BJP-led NDA on January 28, 2024, severing ties with the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), which included the RJD. This marked his fifth political switch in the last decade in a bid to retain power.