Deepak Prakash, son of Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha, has grabbed headlines following his unexpected induction into Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s cabinet on Thursday.
At 36, Prakash is the only RLM minister in the new government, despite not contesting the recent assembly elections or being a member of either house of the state legislature.
The new minister drew immediate attention for his casual appearance at the swearing-in ceremony at Gandhi Maidan, choosing jeans and an untucked shirt over the traditional kurta-pyjama worn by most colleagues.
Explaining his attire, Prakash told reporters that his father inspired him to enter politics and that he wanted to keep politics “close to ordinary people.” He admitted that the news of his cabinet induction came as a surprise even to him.
A day later, Prakash's father and RLM chief and former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha, on Friday, defended the induction of his son into the Cabinet, calling him a qualified computer engineer and rejecting allegations of nepotism.
Responding to criticism, Kushwaha, in a social media post widely interpreted as directed at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, described the attacks on Prakash as “malicious and prejudiced.” He stressed that ministerial appointments should be based on merit and capability rather than caste or family connections.
“Deepak Prakash is not a student who failed in school. He studied diligently, earned a degree in computer science engineering, and comes from a family with strong values. Give him time to prove himself; he will meet expectations and earn your trust,” Kushwaha wrote.
Meanwhile, according to sources cited by The Times of India, both Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Home Minister Amit Shah were initially hesitant about Kushwaha’s push for his son to get a ministerial post.
His induction was reportedly only confirmed at the eleventh hour. Who is Deepak Prakash?
Before stepping into politics, Prakash built a career in the technology space.
A 2011 B.Tech graduate in Computer Science from Manipal Institute of Technology, he worked in IT for four years before shifting focus to political activities. According to a party insider cited in a News18 report, he recently returned from abroad and has been gradually taking on responsibilities within the RLM, banking on his proximity to his father’s political influence.
The RLM, a constituent of the NDA, won four of the six seats it contested in the recent Bihar assembly polls, including Sasaram, represented by Prakash’s mother, Snehlata Kushwaha. While earlier anticipations had initially pointed to Snehlata taking the cabinet position, the final decision to induct Deepak was made just hours before the swearing-in.
Prakash on Saturday assumed charge as Bihar’s Minister of Panchayati Raj. “We will strengthen Panchayati Raj to implement policies in every village,” said Prakash after taking office.
As per constitutional requirements, Prakash now has six months to secure membership in either house of the state legislature to retain his ministerial post.
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