Patna: Nishant Kumar, the son of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, formally took charge as Bihar's health minister on Friday. The appointment drew sharp criticism from Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who accused the NDA government of promoting dynastic politics and inducting leaders without an electoral mandate.
Priorities outlined
After assuming office at the health department in Vikas Bhavan, Nishant stated that strengthening healthcare services and ensuring effective implementation of government schemes for the common people would be his top priorities. "Fulfilling public expectations and ensuring that government schemes reach the common people properly will remain my primary focus," he said.
Welcomed by Health Department Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh, Nishant reviewed departmental operations and issued several directives aimed at improving healthcare delivery, transparency, and accountability. Referring to the work done under Nitish's leadership, Nishant said the progress achieved in the health sector over the past two decades would be carried forward. "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 added.
Key directives
The minister directed officials to strengthen trauma centres, improve ambulance services in accident-prone areas, digitise patient records, enhance medicine supply chains, and expand specialist healthcare services in district hospitals and Community Health Centres. He also stressed the need to ensure doctors' presence in rural areas and improve coordination to tackle diseases caused by contaminated drinking water.
Opposition's attack
Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav questioned the NDA's stance on dynastic politics after Nishant Kumar and Deepak Prakash, son of former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha, were inducted into the cabinet despite not being members of either House of the state legislature. "That person broke alliance with the Grand Alliance at the Patna veterinary ground over the issue of parivarvad. Now his own son is a minister in the government. This is a good thing, but now they don't hold the right to criticise others over this issue," Tejashwi said at a press conference in Patna.
Tejashwi noted that he became a minister only after winning elections, unlike Nishant and Deepak. "Why is there no discussion now regarding those who have become ministers without getting the public mandate?" he asked. He also claimed that several ministers in the Samrat Choudhary government had dynastic backgrounds and accused the NDA of hypocrisy over the issue of "parivarvad".
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About the Author: Manoj Chaurasia is a senior political journalist with experience working for top national and international media over a career spanning more than 25 years. He loves writing political, offbeat, and human-interest stories.
