Patna, May 8 (IANS) Following the expansion of the Cabinet led by Samrat Choudhary, the Bihar government finalised the allocation of portfolios late on Thursday evening, after which ministers formally began assuming charge of their respective departments. Among the most closely watched appointments was that of Nishant Kumar, son of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has been entrusted with the Health Department in his first ministerial assignment.

After formally assuming office as Health Minister, Nishant Kumar stated that his primary objective would be to strengthen healthcare services across Bihar while addressing the difficulties faced by ordinary citizens.

Expressing gratitude to the people of Bihar, he said the NDA’s victory in the 2025 elections reflected the public’s trust and confidence in the alliance.

“The support and confidence shown by the people of Bihar toward the NDA is both a matter of pride and a great responsibility for me. Maintaining that trust will remain my foremost priority,” he said.

Nishant Kumar stated that he would work with honesty, dedication, and sincerity towards development, welfare initiatives, and effective implementation of government schemes at the grassroots level.

He added that the responsibility entrusted to him by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was not merely a political role, but an opportunity to serve the people directly.

“Fulfilling public expectations and ensuring that government schemes reach the common people properly will remain my primary focus,” he remarked.

Acknowledging that this was his first day in office, Nishant Kumar said he would initially focus on understanding the functioning of the Health Department before making policy-level comments or decisions.

He stated that gaining complete information about the department’s current condition, ongoing schemes, and operational challenges was essential before formulating future strategies.

“It would not be appropriate to comment on any issue without a complete understanding. Learning and understanding are necessary for effectively discharging any responsibility,” he said.

Nishant Kumar also referred to the developmental work carried out by his father, Nitish Kumar, over the last two decades, particularly in the healthcare sector and public welfare administration.

He stated that his effort would be to ensure continuity in that developmental journey while further strengthening initiatives already launched for public benefit.

“The work done over the past two decades, especially in health and other sectors, is still appreciated by the people. My effort will be to ensure that this process of development and public service continues uninterrupted,” he said.

The new Health Minister also referred to Nitish Kumar’s ‘Saat Nishchay-3’ programme and the promises made during the ‘Samriddhi Yatra,’ emphasising that effective implementation of government schemes at the grassroots level would remain a priority.

Whether in the Health Department or other sectors, he said, the government’s aim is to ensure that development benefits reach every citizen.

“Our objective is to take Bihar to new heights of development, and I will work with complete commitment toward achieving that goal,” Nishant Kumar stated.

–IANS

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