Dynasty debate: Three former chief ministers’ son in Samrat cabinet
Beginning with RJD supreme leader Lalu Prasad’s son Tejashwi Yadav, the rise of the new dynasts adds a fresh chapter to Bihar’s entrenched tradition of family-led parties.
Nishant Kumar, son of former chief minister Nitish Kumar, has joined the Samrat Choudhary-led government as health minister, perpetuating Bihar’s long tradition of dynastic politics.
Besides Nishant Kumar, there are two others, who took oath as ministers on May 7, are son of former chief ministers.
Nitish Mishra, who has been given charge of Urban Development and Information Technology, is the son of former chief minister Jagannath Mishra.
Santosh Kumar Suman alias Santosh Manjhi took oath as minister for the fifth time. He is the son of former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi. Santosh Kumar Suman has been allocated Minor Water Resources Department.
While Nishant Kumar is from JDU, Nitish Mishra is from BJP and Santosh Manjhi is from Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular).
Deepak Prakash, son of RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha, too was inducted into the ministry despite never having contested an election. He had served in the previous Nitish government as well, although his inclusion had faced stiff resistance from within his own party.
Dynastic politics
Beginning with RJD supreme leader Lalu Prasad’s son Tejashwi Yadav, the rise of the new dynasts adds a fresh chapter to Bihar’s entrenched tradition of family-led parties.
Union minister Chirag Paswan, son of the late Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan, is another prominent political heir from the state. Chirag was on the dais to watch two ministers from his party sworn in.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly attacked dynastic politics, describing family-controlled parties as a threat to democracy and constantly urging voters to reject them.
The BJP, however, maintained silence over the induction of Nishant and Deepak, saying it was the allies’ prerogative to decide which of their members to nominate for ministry berths. Nitish Mishra, however, is a dynast from the BJP itself, as are many others in the party.
Nitish Kumar has throughout his political career opposed dynastic politics as uncompromisingly as corruption, and steadfastly criticised Lalu Prasad for installing his wife Rabri Devi as chief minister and later promoting his sons’ political careers.
Nishant, an engineering graduate, had long resisted calls to join active politics. He eventually relented amid mounting pressure from senior JDU leaders and workers after Nitish decided to step down as chief minister and move to the Rajya Sabha.
His family too impressed on him the importance of gaining administrative experience, party insiders said. The JDU was keen to see him as deputy chief minister in the Samrat government but Nishant declined, saying he wanted to focus on strengthening the party organisation.
The Bihar cabinet now has 35 ministers — Samrat and two deputy chief ministers from the JDU had been sworn in earlier — picked carefully to maintain a caste balance.
