Three Women in Bihar Cabinet: Leshi Singh, Shreyasi Singh and Rama Nishad Likely to Get Key Portfolios

Patna: Despite women casting votes in record numbers and outperforming male voter turnout in the recent Bihar Assembly election, their representation in the new Nitish Kumar cabinet remains limited. Only three women ministers took oath on Thursday — slightly over 11% of the total ministers sworn in. However, all three are expected to be allotted significant portfolios, according to political sources.

The women inducted into the cabinet are Leshi Singh, Rama Nishad, and Shreyasi Singh.

Leshi Singh: The Senior-most Woman Minister

Leshi Singh, a six-time JD(U) MLA from Dhamdaha in Purnia, is the senior-most among the three. In the previous cabinet, she held the Food and Consumer Protection Department, and is considered a close confidante of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

After the oath ceremony, Leshi Singh said,
“The Chief Minister has once again trusted me. I will continue to work for Bihar’s progress under his guidance.”

Given her experience, she is seen as a strong contender for another major administrative department, possibly even the Social Welfare portfolio, which she has handled in the past.

Rama Nishad: The First-time MLA with Strong Political Backing

Rama Nishad entered the cabinet immediately after her debut election victory from Aurai (Muzaffarpur). She is the wife of former Muzaffarpur MP Ajay Nishad, giving her a solid political base.

After taking oath, she thanked the party’s central leadership and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying she would work with full dedication for the development of the state.

Her inclusion signals the coalition’s intent to empower women representatives from strong OBC communities like the Nishad voters.

Shreyasi Singh: Gold Medallist Shooter Turned Minister

Shreyasi Singh, an Asian Games gold medallist shooter, won the Jamui seat for the second time on a BJP ticket. This is her first entry into the cabinet. She belongs to an influential political family and represents a major youth face in Bihar politics.

She expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, and state BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal for their support.

Shreyasi is widely speculated to be given charge of the Sports Department, considering her achievements in athletics and her influence among young voters.

Which Minister May Get Which Department?

Although the official allocation is yet to be announced, discussions within the ruling alliance indicate the following possibilities:

• Leshi Singh – Likely contenders: Social Welfare or another key administrative department
• Shreyasi Singh – Strongly tipped for the Sports Department
• Rama Nishad – Expected to be assigned a department with grassroots public outreach

Women played a decisive role in this election, contributing to the highest-ever Bihar turnout of 66.91%. Female voter turnout stood at 71.6%, significantly higher than the 62.8% turnout among men. Despite that, female representation in the cabinet remains low — making these three appointments highly significant.