By Were Kelly
In a historic reconfiguration of power, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ceded the crucial Home Ministry portfolio to allies from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as part of a new ministerial allocation following state elections.
The move, which sees Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) party relinquishing one of the most powerful positions in the state government, is aimed at stabilising the ruling coalition but has ignited immediate debates over corruption and governance.
The allocation of cabinet berths to 26 ministers has drawn particular scrutiny due to the profile of the new government. Data from a watchdog group revealed that a staggering 46% of the newly sworn-in ministers face ongoing criminal charges, while 88% are classified as millionaires.
The Home Department, now under BJP control, oversees the state’s police and internal security apparatus, making the shift a significant concession by Kumar.
A spokesperson for the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal lambasted the allocation, stating, “This is not a government; it is a consortium of the wealthy and the accused. The people of Bihar have been handed an administration that seems to prioritise power-sharing over public trust.”
The arrangement, while potentially securing short-term political stability for the coalition, carries substantial risks for its public legitimacy.
A political analyst based in Patna explained, “Nitish Kumar is a master of political survival. By giving the BJP such a key portfolio, he secures their loyalty for now, but he has also handed them immense operational control.
The balance of power in this coalition has fundamentally shifted.” The public perception of the government being dominated by wealthy individuals with legal troubles presents a significant challenge.
The coming months will test whether this power-sharing model can deliver effective governance for Bihar or if the compromises made to form the government will lead to administrative paralysis and a further erosion of public confidence.
Source: The Hindu
