The ceremony was notable for its symbolic and unexpected moments. Chirag Paswan publicly touched the feet of Jitan Ram Manjhi and JP Nadda, while Prime Minister Modi greeted Nitish with a handshake and waved a traditional gamcha to the cheering crowd. At Patna airport, Nitish attempted to touch Modi’s feet, but the gesture was gently halted, hinting at nuanced political dynamics.

Among the cabinet inductees, Deepak Prakash, son of Upendra Kushwaha, drew attention for joining without contesting elections, wearing casual jeans and an open shirt. Prakash emphasized, “Judge my talent, not my family…Give me time, and I will earn your trust,” pledging to focus on youth employment.

The 26-member cabinet comprises 14 BJP ministers, 8 JDU, 2 LJP, and one each from HAM and Kushwaha’s party. Nine new faces were inducted, including Ram Kripal Yadav and Shreyasi Singh, while only three women—Leshi Singh, Rama Nishad, and Shreyasi Singhfound places, highlighting limited female representation.

Prem Kumar is slated to become the Bihar Assembly Speaker, marking another strategic appointment. The cabinet formation reflects a mix of experience, new entrants, and caste-based political considerations, signaling the NDA’s focus on consolidating power while balancing regional and community representation.

The oath ceremony, combining tradition, spectacle, and strategic appointments, underscored Bihar’s evolving political landscape and set the tone for the state government’s governance and alliance dynamics in the coming term.