Patna, Bihar: Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record tenth time today, marking a new chapter in the state's political landscape. The oath-taking ceremony, held at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, was attended by prominent leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President JP Nadda.

The new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government sees Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assuming the roles of Deputy Chief Ministers. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan administered the oath of office to Kumar and the new cabinet members. A total of 27 ministers, including the Chief Minister, were sworn in. The cabinet includes 14 ministers from BJP, 8 from JD(U), 2 from LJP(RV), and one each from HAM(S) and RLM.

Nitish Kumar's return as Chief Minister comes after the NDA secured a decisive victory in the recent assembly elections, winning 202 seats in the 243-member House. The Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] secured 85 seats, while the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats. This strong performance has paved the way for the alliance's return to power in Bihar.

Samrat Choudhary, a significant figure in the BJP, has been a Member of the Bihar Legislative Council and has held various ministerial positions in the past. He was also the BJP Bihar state unit president from March 2023 to July 2024. Vijay Kumar Sinha, also from the BJP, has been elected as the deputy to Choudhary.

The new government is expected to focus on fulfilling its pre-poll promises, including generating one crore jobs in five years and creating "Lakhpati Didis". The NDA has also pledged to overhaul the education sector with a Rs 5,000-crore investment and to improve infrastructure by building seven expressways and laying 3,600 km of railway tracks. Additionally, the government has assured the development of Metro railway in four cities and the establishment of a Medicity with world-class facilities, along with a medical college in every district.

The composition of the new cabinet reflects the coalition's efforts to represent various sections of society. The cabinet includes members from different parties within the NDA. JD(U) leaders Leshi Singh, Madan Sahni, Nitin Nabin, Ram Kripal Yadav, Santosh Kumar Suman, and Sunil Kumar also took oath as state ministers. BJP leaders taking oath included Dilip Jaiswal, Mangal Pandey, Nitin Nabin, and Ram Kripal Yadav.

Nitish Kumar's extensive experience as Chief Minister and his understanding of Bihar's political dynamics are expected to play a crucial role in steering the state forward. This term marks Kumar's entry into the top 10 list of longest-serving Chief Ministers in the country, joining the ranks of leaders like Pawan Kumar Chamling of Sikkim and Naveen Patnaik of Odisha.

The new government's performance will be closely watched, particularly in relation to its ability to deliver on its promises and address the challenges facing Bihar. With a strong mandate and a blend of experienced and new faces in the cabinet, the NDA government is poised to embark on its journey to develop the state.