As Nitish Kumar assumes office for his tenth term as Bihar Chief Minister, the induction of Deepak Prakash, son of Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) leader Upendra Kushwaha, into the new cabinet has drawn significant attention. Deepak has been appointed as a minister, notably without having participated in the recent Assembly elections.
Deepak is the scion of a prominent political family in Bihar. His father, Upendra Kushwaha, is an established figure in national politics, serving as a Rajya Sabha MP and having previously held significant roles including Union minister and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly. His mother, Sneh Lata Kushwaha, recently reinforced the family’s electoral success by winning the Sasaram Assembly seat with a considerable vote margin.
The decision to include Deepak in the cabinet, rather than his mother Sneh Lata, who was initially considered, is attributed to internal NDA negotiations and Upendra Kushwaha’s influential position. For Deepak to continue as minister, he must become a member of either the Bihar Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council within six months. A nomination to the Legislative Council is reportedly being prepared.
Analysts are identifying Deepak’s appointment as a strategic move to solidify the Luv-Kush (Kurmi-Kushwaha) community’s support for the NDA. Given the significant political weight of Nitish Kumar and Upendra Kushwaha within this social group, Deepak’s inclusion serves to maintain and strengthen their representation in the state government.
The ministerial role for Deepak marks an important consolidation of the Kushwaha family’s political power. Following his 2024 Lok Sabha election defeat in Karakat, Upendra Kushwaha was provided a Rajya Sabha seat through NDA support. The combined political achievements of the family, including his wife’s recent victory and their son’s cabinet appointment, highlight their growing influence.
The RLM, a part of the NDA, secured four seats in the Assembly elections, a notable comeback for Upendra Kushwaha. His political career has seen shifts and challenges, but his recent re-alignment with the NDA and the formation of RLM have paved the way for this ascent, placing his family in a position of considerable political leverage within Bihar.