Who is Nishant Kumar? From 'no interest in politics' to becoming minister

In two months after his official entry into politics, Nishant Kumar, the son of JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar, on Thursday (May 7) took oath as a minister in Bihar’s Cabinet.

Nishant and 31 others took oath as ministers in Patna in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Nishant’s elevation after Nitish heads to Rajya Sabha

His elevation comes after his father stepped down as chief minister last month to enter the Rajya Sabha.

The 32 leaders, drawn from all constituents of the five-party NDA in the state, were administered the oath of office by Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain at a grand ceremony that was also attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Health Minister JP Nadda and BJP president Nitin Nabin.

Also read: Turban off, crown on: Samrat Choudhary’s journey from BJP’s target to Bihar CM

The BJP, which is the single largest party in the 243-member Assembly with 89 MLAs, has 15 ministers, who took oath to join Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary’s Cabinet on Thursday.

Most of the inductees were those who were part of the Nitish Cabinet formed in November last year after the NDA stormed back to power in the Assembly polls.

Who is Nishant?

Nishant, born on July 20, 1975, is a software engineer. He is unmarried and is the only son of Nitish and late Manju Sinha. His mother died in 2017. For a very long time, he chose to stay away from public life.

He studied at St. Karen’s School in Patna and Manava Bharati India International School, Mussoorie. Later, graduated in software engineering from Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, Ranchi.

In 2017, Nishant had said that he had no interest in politics and described spiritualism as his “first love”.

"I have neither interest in politics nor any knowledge about this field. My first love is spiritualism, and as of now, I am proceeding on the path of spiritualism," Nishant had said.

His official entry into politics came on March 7 this year when he joined JD(U). Now, within two months, he has become a minister. Recently, he launched “Sadbhav Yatra” (goodwill tour) from Valmiki Nagar in West Champaran district.

The place had been chosen multiple times by his father as the starting point for numerous “yatras” during a nearly two-decade-long tenure as the chief minister of Bihar.

Ahead of the yatra, “Jai Nishant, tay Nishant” (victory for Nishant, his rise is inevitable) was a catchphrase seen on the JD(U)’s posters as well as social media handles.

‘Educated young leader’

JD(U) spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar recently said Nishant will carry forward his father’s legacy.

“Nitish Kumar had always followed the policy of zero tolerance for crime, corruption and communalism. The new government, too, has adopted the same as its motto. In Nishant, we have a leader who will carry forward the legacy,” said Neeraj.

“I welcome the new generation to enter politics. I thank the CM for leading the NDA in the recent assembly elections. It is a matter of great happiness that Nishant Kumar will now enter politics with the support of the CM and his family, and we wholeheartedly welcome him," Bihar Industries Minister Dilip Jaiswal told PTI Videos recently.

“He is certainly an educated young leader, holding a BTech degree, and is a well-grounded individual," the former state BJP president added.