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Bihar reshuffles key commissions, sparking charges of nepotism and politics
Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar, the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government has undertaken a large-scale reorganisation of various state commissions. Over the past few weeks, at least half a dozen commissions - including the Minority Commission, Savarna Commission, Fishermen's Commission and Scheduled Caste Commission - have been restructured. These developments are closely linked to political calculations and adjustments within the ruling timing of the reorganisation, after prolonged delays, is seen as strategic. Many of the appointees are either aspirants for Assembly tickets or politically significant figures. For instance, former JDU Rajya Sabha MP and national general secretary Ghulam Rasool Baliyavi, who had raised objections to the Wakf amendment law, has been made chairman of the State Minority move is being seen as an attempt to temper his opposition and align him with the party's line. Alongside Baliyavi, NDA allies' leaders Lakhvinder Singh and Maulana Umar Noorani have been appointed as vice-chairpersons of the same commission.
In the newly constituted Savarna Commission, former BJP minister Mahachandra Prasad Singh has been named chairman - putting to rest speculations about his candidacy in the next election. JDU spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan has been appointed as vice-chairman, viewed as a political accommodation, while BJP's Rajkumar Singh, a leader from the Rajput community, has been included as a all appointees are frontline politicians. Several relatives of key leaders have also been adjusted into positions of influence. Mrinal Paswan, son-in-law of the late Ram Vilas Paswan and brother-in-law of Union Minister Chirag Paswan, has been appointed as chairman of the Scheduled Caste Commission. Devendra Kumar, son-in-law of Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, has been made vice-chairman of the same commission. In the Fishermen's Commission, former MLA Ajit Chaudhary, seen as a contender from Brahmpur constituency in Buxar, has been appointed list extends further. Sayan Kunal, son of Acharya Kishore Kunal and son-in-law of state minister Ashok Choudhary, has been made a member of the State Religious Trust Board. Rashmi Rekha Sinha, wife of former chief secretary Deepak Kumar and a retired IAS officer, has been inducted into the State Women's appointments triggered a political storm, with Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav accusing the government of indulging in nepotism. In response, Minister Ashok Choudhary countered by asking Yadav to reflect on his own family's political history. He defended the appointment of his son-in-law Sayan Kunal, stating that Sayan is better known for being the son of Acharya Kishore Kunal, a respected figure who once saved the Mahavir Mandir during Lalu Prasad Yadav's also hit back with personal jibes, questioning the merit of Tejashwi's own rise in politics, pointing out that he became Deputy Chief Minister twice despite studying only till class nine, and that other members of the Lalu family have similarly held political office without corresponding Kumar Manjhi, son-in-law of Jitan Ram Manjhi and newly appointed vice-chairman of the Scheduled Caste Commission, also responded to criticism. He said Tejashwi Yadav was attempting to intimidate a Dalit by questioning his appointment. Claiming he is a qualified engineer with 15 years of public service, Manjhi said he had issued a notice to Lalu Prasad Yadav over a viral video in which Lalu is allegedly seen disrespecting Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's portrait. If Lalu fails to respond, the Commission will instruct the police to file an unfolding events underscore how the reshuffling of commissions in Bihar is deeply intertwined with political maneuvering, ticket distribution management, and an attempt to maintain caste balance—particularly as the NDA prepares for a closely contested Assembly Watch
