Ahead of the Assembly elections, the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government has reshuffled several key state commissions, leading to strong criticism from the Opposition. This major move includes changes in six commissions, such as the Minority Commission, Savarna Commission, Scheduled Caste Commission, and Fishermen’s Commission.
Many believe the timing of these appointments is political. Several people chosen are either looking to contest elections or are linked to powerful leaders. For example, Ghulam Rasool Baliyavi, a former JDU MP, who had earlier opposed a law on Wakf properties, has now been made chairman of the Minority Commission. This is being seen as a move to bring him closer to the party’s views.
Other appointees include Lakhvinder Singh and Maulana Umar Noorani as vice-chairpersons of the same commission. In the Savarna Commission, former BJP minister Mahachandra Prasad Singh has been made chairman, while JDU’s Rajeev Ranjan and BJP’s Rajkumar Singh have also been given posts.
The list also includes relatives of top politicians. For example, Mrinal Paswan, son-in-law of late Ram Vilas Paswan, is now head of the Scheduled Caste Commission, and Devendra Kumar, son-in-law of Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, is vice-chairman.
Tejashwi Yadav, the Opposition leader, has accused the government of nepotism. In response, ministers defended the appointments, saying many appointees are qualified. Ashok Choudhary, a state minister, hit back at Tejashwi by pointing out his own family’s political background.
This reshuffle shows how the Bihar government is balancing caste, rewarding loyalists, and managing election strategies. With elections approaching, such political moves are expected to continue, even as debates over fairness and merit heat up.
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