Patna: Ministers in Nitish Kumar’s recent administration have begun taking charge of their respective departments, a day after the formal allocation of portfolios. Ashok Choudhary and Deepak Prakash Kushwaha were among the first to report to their offices on Saturday, followed by sports minister Shreyasi Singh, as the new cabinet adjusted to its roles. Rural works minister Ashok Choudhary quickly outlined his priorities, committing to work “to full capacity” to fulfill the chief minister’s vision for infrastructure. He highlighted the necessity of improved rural connectivity to foster Bihar’s economic growth. Choudhary stated that year-round roads would be constructed, major routes expanded, and ongoing projects expedited.
With increasing traffic levels across the state, he noted that widening key roads into double lanes would be crucial. Deepak Prakash Kushwaha, the new panchayati raj minister and son of Rashtriya Lok Morcha leader Upendra Kushwaha, underscored the importance of grassroots institutions in enhancing governance. He mentioned that his department would strive to ensure that the advantages of panchayati raj schemes reach “every individual in every village”. He promised to fulfill his responsibilities with “utmost dedication”. Following his appointment, Prakash convened a meeting with senior officials to assess the department’s operations. The discussions focused on priority areas, ongoing and pending projects, fund usage, and challenges reported by panchayat representatives.
He directed officials to emphasize transparency, timeliness, and accountability, encouraging them to eliminate unnecessary formalities and act promptly on outstanding tasks. He insisted that progress reports be expedited and that the implementation of schemes should not encounter delays.