Patna: Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the chief minister of Bihar for a record 10th term, establishing a 26-member cabinet in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a large audience in Patna. Despite women voters playing a crucial role in the NDA’s significant victory, only three women—Leshi Singh, Rama Nishad, and Shreyasi Singh—were included in the new council of ministers, representing just 11%. Analysts highlight the disparity between Bihar’s high female political engagement and their minimal representation in executive roles. The NDA won 202 seats, largely aided by women voters who benefited from Nitish Kumar’s welfare initiatives, notably the Jivika program. This election also experienced record voter turnout, with women voting at a higher rate than men.
Leshi Singh, a six-time MLA from Dhamdaha, has maintained her cabinet position after defeating RJD’s Santosh Kumar by 55,159 votes. A trusted member of Janata Dal (United), she previously held the role of Minister of Food and Consumer Protection. Shreyasi Singh, who was inducted from the BJP quota, is serving as a minister for the first time, winning her seat in Jamui by 54,498 votes against RJD’s Mohammad Shamshad Alam. Rama Nishad, who won from the Aurai constituency with a margin of 54,000 votes over VIP’s Bhogendra Sahni, has also been appointed to the cabinet. Her inclusion is significant given her extensive public service and the strong support for women candidates in this election.
