Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the state-of-the-art Sri Ram Janki Medical College and Hospital in Samastipur on Sunday.

The gesture came on the eve of the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration. Combined with the shifting of RJD minister Chandrashekhar from the high-profile education department to the non-descript sugarcane industries department due to his controversial remarks on Ramcharitmanas, Ram and other scriptures, it indicated Nitish’s willingness to tow the Hindutva line — independently or otherwise.

Constructed for Rs 591 crore, the medical facility at Sarai Ranjan in Samastipur district has 500 beds and 100 MBBS seats per year. It is a green building that has been built with earthquake-resistant techniques.

“The hospital building is a beautiful one. The treatment of patients has started here with its inauguration and the people of this area will not have to visit far away for availing medical facilities. The Ram Janki Math (monastery) had given its land for the hospital, which has been named after it,” Nitish said.

“The central government has also assisted in the construction of the hospital. We will increase its capacity from 500 beds to 1,000 beds in future. The seats for medical students will also be increased,” Nitish added.

Several state ministers and legislators were present at the inaugural function.

Earlier, in a reshuffle late on Saturday, Nitish shifted education minister Chandrashekhar to the sugarcane industries department. Alok Kumar Mehta will be new education minister.