Shahnawaz Hussain, ex-IPS officer Sunil Kumar join Nitish’s Cabinet

Sushant Singh Rajput’s cousin Neeraj also joins as Minister

Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Shahnawaz Hussain on Tuesday joined Nitish Kumar’s Cabinet as Bihar’s Industries Minister. The much-awaited Cabinet expansion, the first one after Nitish took over as CM in November 2020, saw 17 new ministers taking oath on the sprawling campus of Raj Bhawan this afternoon.

Besides Shahnawaz, other notables who joined the Nitish’s Cabinet are late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s cousin Neeraj Singh Babloo, the four-time MLA from Chhatapur and Sunil Kumar, the IPS officer who took VRS on the eve of Assembly poll while he was serving Bihar Government in the rank of Director General (DG). Sunil won the Bhore seat to make his debut as a JD (U) MLA.

Altogether 17 leaders, including nine BJP legislators and eight JD (U) MLAs were administered the oath of office by Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan. With today’s swearing-in, the number of ministers in Nitish Cabinet is now 30, excluding the Chief Minister.

Among the younger lot, BJP’s Nitin Navin was also sworn in as a minister. Nitin had defeated Shatrughan Sinha’s son Luv Sinha from Bankipore Assembly constituency in Patna in November last year. Nitin will be Bihar’s Road Construction Minister.

The sole BSP MLA, Jama Khan, who, earlier this year dumped Mayawati’s outfit and joined the JD (U), was made Minority Welfare Minister on Tuesday.

While Shahnawaz took his oath in Urdu, Sanjay Jha and Alok Ranjan preferred Maithali. Others, including Jama Khan, were administered the oath in Hindi.

The only embarrassing moment was when BJP MLA Narayan Prasad had to take his oath thrice after his faux pas twice.