Patna: Six days after the new Bihar government assumed office, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has finalized the distribution of ministerial portfolios, resulting in significant political shifts, notably in the Home Department. For the first time in twenty years, Nitish Kumar has transferred the Home portfolio, which he traditionally managed, to Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary. This decision elevates Samrat Chaudhary as the cabinet’s most influential minister, both in terms of status and administrative authority. Nitish Kumar retains control over the General Administration, Cabinet Secretariat, Vigilance, and Elections departments. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha is now responsible for Revenue, Land Reforms, Mines, and Geology, bolstering the BJP’s dominance over departments linked to land, minerals, and urban development.
The BJP currently oversees several revenue-generating departments, while the JD(U) continues to manage those with the highest budget allocations. An analysis of the 2025-26 Bihar budget indicates a shift in the power dynamics, the financial significance of each ministry, and the implications for employment, development, and political relationships. BJP Releases Three Key Departments to Allies According to the Bihar budget, the top five departments by total allocation are Education, Health, Home, Urban Development, and Rural Development. The JD(U) oversees Education, Rural Works, and Rural Development, while the BJP is responsible for Urban Development, Health, and Home. Notably, the BJP has transferred three of its departments—Panchayati Raj, PHED, and Sugarcane Industry—to its ally LJP(R).
Consequently, both the BJP and JD(U) now manage 20 departments each. How This Administration Differs From Its Predecessor The previous NDA government comprised BJP, JD(U), and HAM(S). This time, the NDA partners also include Chirag Paswan’s LJP(R) and Upendra Kushwaha’s RLM. To accommodate its allies, the BJP has relinquished three departments: – Panchayati Raj to RLM, – PHED to LJP(R), – Sugarcane Industry to LJP(R). In the former administration, all three were under BJP control. JD(U) Maintains Authority Over Important Social Welfare and High-Budget Ministries Nitish Kumar has ensured that the JD(U) retains control over significant and socially vital ministries. Currently, the JD(U) manages Education, Home, Energy, Rural Works, and Rural Development—departments that command the largest budgets.
Meanwhile, the BJP oversees Health and Urban Development among the key ministries. For the first time since 2005, the BJP will not present the Bihar budget. Historically, BJP figures like Sushil Kumar Modi, Tarkishore Prasad, and Samrat Chaudhary have presented the budget a combined total of fifteen times. Now, with Finance returning to the JD(U), a JD(U) minister will present the 2026-27 Bihar budget. JD(U) to Manage Governance; BJP Oversees Law and Urban Functions Despite transferring the Home portfolio, Nitish Kumar continues to manage the essential administrative framework, including General Administration, Monitoring, and Cabinet Secretariat. The BJP is now responsible for Law and Disaster Management, while both parties share oversight of job-related sectors.
In infrastructure, rural development is retained by the JD(U), while the BJP continues to focus on urban development and construction projects. Equal Distribution in Jobs and Employment The government’s ambitious goal of generating ten million jobs is linked to departments such as Education, Health, Rural Development, Housing, Industry, and Urban Development. Both BJP and JD(U) have an almost equal share of these portfolios, reflecting a balanced strategy for job creation. Samrat Chaudhary Controls the Largest Budget Among the Chief Minister and the two deputy Chief Ministers, Home Minister Samrat Chaudhary has the largest budget allocation—₹17,831.21 crore. In comparison: • Nitish Kumar’s four departments total ₹3,041.63 crore. • Vijay Sinha’s departments amount to ₹2,033.45 crore.
This positions Samrat Chaudhary as nearly 5.5 times more powerful than the Chief Minister in terms of budgetary authority and eight times more than Vijay Sinha. Top Five Ministers by Budget Sunil Kumar (JDU) — Education and Science & Technology: ₹62,123.87 crore Mangal Pandey (BJP) — Health and Law: ₹21,717.52 crore Nitin Naveen (BJP) — Road Construction and Urban Development: ₹18,788 crore Vijay Chaudhary (JDU) — Water Resources, IPRD, Building Construction, Parliamentary Affairs: ₹14,639 crore Bijendra Yadav (JDU) — Finance, Energy, Planning, Commercial Tax, Prohibition: ₹8,603.32 crore Departmental Distribution JD(U) governs 20 departments with a total budget of ₹1,38,919.16 crore. These encompass Finance, Water Resources, Education, Rural Works, Rural Development, Social Welfare, Energy, Minority Welfare, and Transport.
The BJP also retains 20 departments with a total budget of ₹81,518.69 crore, including Home, Agriculture, Health, Urban Development, Industry, Environment, Animal Resources, Tourism, Disaster Management, and Mines. LJP(R) Retains Two Significant Departments LJP(R) has been allotted the Sugarcane Industry and PHED, with a combined budget of ₹2,894.36 crore. HAM(S) and RLM Receive One Department Each The HAM(S) Party controls Minor Water Resources with a budget of ₹1,839 crore. The RLM receives the Panchayati Raj Department, one of the highest-funded ministries, with a budget of ₹11,302.57 crore. The final distribution reflects a meticulously balanced political strategy—where allies have been accommodated, the BJP has secured strategic portfolios, and Nitish Kumar maintains comprehensive control over administration and high-budget ministries.
