The recent Bihar Cabinet expansion by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has witnessed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) choosing ministers in a strategic manner with a clear emphasis on caste representation.
With the induction of seven new ministers from different communities, the BJP is looking to expand its base among several voter groups.
One of the notable inclusions is Krishna Kumar Mantu, Amanour MLA, who hails from the Kurmi caste. Mantu, a veteran politician with strong roots, has been active in politics since his student days. Even his family members have strong political backgrounds, his wife Savita Devi being block Pramukh for four terms in a row. Mantu, having a cordial relationship with Chhapra MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy, retained his Assembly constituency for the second time in 2020, defeating RJD's Sunil Kumar.
Another prominent addition is Vijay Kumar Mandal, the five-time MLA from the Sikti constituency in Araria's Seemanchal belt. A member of the Kewat caste, which falls under the Extremely Backward Class (EBC) category, Mandal started his political journey in 1995 with Anand Mohan's Bihar People's Party (BPP), where he was the lone successful candidate. He then shifted to RJD but, after being refused a ticket in 2000, fought independently and won. During the years, he had switched parties and finally won elections on LJP and RJD tickets. His induction in the Cabinet has been viewed as a calculated attempt to consolidate the EBC votes, especially of the Kewat community in Seemanchal.
Raju Kumar Singh, the Sahebganj MLA from Muzaffarpur district, is another important addition. From the Rajput community, Singh is a four-term MLA and a well-known industrialist in northern Bihar. He started his political career with the LJP in 2005 and then successfully switched to JD-U in the 2009 by-elections. He won the seat again in 2010 but subsequently switched to the BJP in 2015. Even though he lost that election, he came back to win in 2020 on a VIP ticket before joining the BJP once again in 2022. His induction is likely to add strength to the BJP's Rajput vote bank in northern Bihar.
Five-time MLA Sanjay Saraogi of the Darbhanga City constituency is a Marwari community representative. Popular for his formidable electoral following, Saraogi entered politics through ABVP and became a ward councillor in 2003. He has retained his Assembly seat ever since 2005. His induction is designed to shore up BJP's support among influential Marwari business circles of Bihar.
Jivesh Kumar of Jale, a two-term MLA and Bhumihar by caste, begins the list of fresh faces from this caste to enter the Council. He started his political career in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) during the 1990s before becoming an active member of the BJP in 2002. Kumar won comfortably in 2020 with a margin of 21,796 votes. After being a former Minister of Labour Resources and former Minister of Science & Technology, his inclusion will provide continued Bhumihar presence in the Cabinet.
Sunil Kumar, four-time MLA from Bihar Sharif, belongs to the Kushwaha (Koeri) caste. First elected on a JD-U ticket in 2005 and 2010, he defected to the BJP in 2013 after JD-U's break-up with the party. He went on to win as a BJP candidate in 2015 and 2020. A doctor and filmmaker by profession, Kumar's inclusion in the Cabinet will be seen to boost BJP's reach to the key OBC Kushwaha vote bank.
Motilal Prasad, Riga MLA from Sitamarhi district, is a Vaishya (trader) community member. Prasad is a two-time legislator, having won in 2010, losing in 2015, and winning again in 2020. His induction into the Cabinet is believed to be an effort to gain increased support from the influential business community of Vaishyas.
With this addition, the BJP now has the maximum number of ministerial seats (22) in the Bihar Cabinet, cementing its stronghold in the state government.
The reshuffle not only enhances the party's regional and caste representation but also strengthens its presence in Seemanchal, northern Bihar, and the urban business community in the run-up to the next elections.
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