The new government, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, announced the portfolios on Sunday. There are some major changes in the key ministries' distribution. CM Nitish Kumar has given up the Home Ministry, a department he held for nearly 20 years. This important portfolio has now been assigned to senior BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary.
An official notification regarding the allocation of portfolios was released on Friday. Another Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader, Vijay Kumar Sinha, has been given the Revenue, Land Reforms, and Underground Mines portfolios. CM Nitish will now oversee the General Administration Department, Cabinet Secretariat, Vigilance, and other departments.
Significantly, the Finance portfolio, which was invariably kept by the BJP in all alliances with the JDU, has been given to the latter this time. The Finance and Commercial Taxes are being handled by senior JDU leader Bijendra Prasad Yadav. Similarly, the portfolios of Rural Development and Transport have gone to another senior JDU leader Srovan Kumar and Ashok Chaudhary has been given the charge of Rural Works department.
Other key portfolios have also been given to other JDU leaders. Vijay Chaudhary handles Building Construction, Water Resources, and Parliamentary Affairs ministries. Madan Sawhney has been given the Social Welfare Ministry.
The BJP leader Shreyasi Singh was given the ministries of Sports and IT by CM Nitish. While Arun Shankar Prasad was given the Tourism Ministry, the Labour Ministry has gone to Sanjay Tiger. Deepak Prakash, the leader of Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, was given the Panchayat Raj department, whereas HAM leader Santosh Suman has been allotted the Water Resources department.
Nitish Kumar, who has governed Bihar for several years, was sworn in as the Chief Minister for the tenth time. Along with him, 26 other ministers took the oath.
