Patna: Just one day after the establishment of Bihar’s new government led by Nitish Kumar, one of the youngest ministers in the cabinet has unexpectedly become a social media sensation. Deepak Prakash, the son of Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha and MLA Snehlata Kushwaha, has taken office without ever contesting an election, leading to a surge of curiosity about him on search engines and social media platforms. At 36 years old, Prakash transitioned from a career in software engineering to politics shortly after the NDA secured a significant victory with 202 seats. When questioned about his cabinet position, he remarked that the answer was “best provided by my father,” which sparked more online discussions.
Born in 1989, Prakash completed his education in Patna and received a BTech in computer science from Manipal University in 2011. He worked as an engineer, founded a startup, and entered politics in 2019 to support his father during the Lok Sabha elections. His rapid ascent from party worker to minister has ignited discussions about political legacy and swift political advancement in Bihar. Another individual gaining attention is his wife, Sakshi Mishra Kushwaha. During the 2025 Bihar assembly campaign, Sakshi drew significant attention while campaigning for her mother-in-law in the Kurtha constituency, where Snehlata Kushwaha ran as an RLM candidate. Originally from Uttar Pradesh, Sakshi is the daughter of retired IAS officer S.N. Mishra.
She identifies as a social worker and actively participates in public life, often seen in traditional attire at community events and religious gatherings—an aspect that has resonated with the Kushwaha family’s voter base, according to party members. Family insiders indicate she is “treated like a daughter” by her in-laws, and her regular involvement in cultural festivities—from Chhath to family rituals—has bolstered her standing in local communities. The Kushwaha family now occupies three significant roles: the father as MP, the mother as MLA, and the son as minister. Prakash is also anticipated to join the Legislative Council, further solidifying the family’s influence across both houses of the state legislature.
