Patna: Sanjay Kumar Singh, who astonished political analysts by defeating Tej Pratap Yadav in the prominent Mahua constituency, has secured a position in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s cabinet. The Mahua seat was a focal point of discussion during the Bihar Assembly election campaign due to Tej Pratap Yadav’s candidacy. Singh’s success not only altered the political landscape of the area but also elevated him from a first-time MLA to a state minister, an uncommon feat in Bihar politics. His inclusion in the cabinet has emerged as one of the most discussed events following the election results.
Nitish Kumar took the oath of office as Chief Minister for the 10th time on Thursday at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, numerous chief ministers, and senior NDA leaders in attendance. A total of 26 ministers were sworn in, comprising 14 from the BJP, eight from the JDU, two from the LJP (Ram Vilas), and one each from the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha. In the final ministerial list, Sanjay Kumar Singh’s name was particularly notable since he had not previously held the positions of MLA or minister, making his rise a significant highlight of the cabinet formation.
Singh secured the Mahua seat on a Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) ticket with 87,641 votes. RJD’s Mukesh Kumar Roshan came in second with 42,644 votes, while Tej Pratap Yadav, who campaigned vigorously, ranked third with 35,703 votes. Tej Pratap had been expelled by his father Lalu Prasad Yadav from both the family and the RJD after a controversial photo of him circulated widely. He subsequently established a new party, the Janshakti Janata Dal, and fielded candidates in 43 constituencies but did not achieve any victories. Sanjay Kumar Singh, who is known to be affiliated with Chirag Paswan, hails from Mahua, is married to Alka Singh, and has three children.
In his affidavit to the Election Commission, he disclosed that there are some pending criminal cases against him. Following the announcement of his ministerial role, celebrations broke out in Mahua. Supporters of the LJP (Ram Vilas) shared sweets, chanted slogans, and expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and party leader Chirag Paswan. NDA leaders also extended their congratulations to Singh. This victory is particularly significant because in the 2020 election, when the undivided LJP contested separately from the NDA, he ran for the Mahua seat but was unsuccessful. However, in 2025, he not only returned with a decisive victory but also joined the state cabinet in his inaugural term, marking a remarkable shift in his political trajectory.
