PATNA, May 8 -- The Bihar cabinet expansion has seen a rare BJP-JD(U) swap of ministries. For the first time in two decades, the two major parties of the ruling NDA bloc have exchanged health and education portfolios. Now, the JD(U) has health and the BJP has the education department, which is split into two - education and higher education.

Two young first-timers - Nishant Kumar and Mithilesh Tiwari - will manage the health and education ministries, while Sanjay Singh Tiger, also among the young ministers, will take care of the higher education department.

While the health department remained with the BJP since November 2005 and went to the most experienced party leaders, the education department always stayed with the JD(U). It was bi...