India, Nov. 21 -- Deepak Prakash, son of Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha, emerged as a surprise pick in the Nitish Kumar government.

Despite not being an MLA or a member of the Legislative Council, Prakash was sworn in on Thursday as the sole minister from his party by Governor Arif Mohammad Khan.

There had been speculation that Kushwaha's wife, Snehlata, who won the Bihar polls from the Sasaram seat, might find a place in the new cabinet. The RLM, an NDA ally, recently won the Bajpatti, Madhubani, Sasaram and Dinara seats in the assembly elections.

His party, the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, contested six seats, won four, and ended up with one ministerial berth in the 10th Nitish ministry.

Party insiders...