Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar is set to resign on Wednesday to facilitate the formation of a new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, where he is expected to resume his role as chief minister. The swearing-in ceremony for the new administration is scheduled for Thursday at Patna's historic Gandhi Maidan.
Although no official confirmation has been issued regarding Nitish Kumar's return as chief minister in the BJP-JD(U)-led NDA coalition, remarks from alliance partners have strongly suggested it, along with potential "surprise inclusions" in the upcoming cabinet lineup.
The term of the current Bihar Legislative Assembly concludes on November 22, with the 18th Assembly slated to convene on or before that deadline.
Bihar govt formation | Top points
- Bihar govt swearing-in ceremony: The swearing-in ceremony of the new NDA-led government is scheduled for Thursday, at 11 am at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan. The event will be attended by top national leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union ministers, and chief ministers from NDA-ruled states. “It will be the grandest swearing-in ceremony seen so far,” a senior BJP leader said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
- Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Monday to inform him of the state cabinet’s decision to recommend dissolution of the current Legislative Assembly. Outgoing JD(U) minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary confirmed that Nitish Kumar will submit his resignation to the Governor on Wednesday as head of the caretaker government, formally paving the way for the formation and swearing-in of the new NDA government.
- Although statements from NDA leaders and multiple reports strongly indicate that Nitish Kumar will return as Bihar chief minister for a record 10th time, final confirmation is expected only on Wednesday. A senior BJP functionary, quoted in an earlier report, said the formal decision on the chief minister’s post will be taken during separate legislature party meetings of the BJP and JD(U) scheduled for Wednesday. The meetings are also likely to provide indications about potential candidates for the deputy chief minister’s position.
- Nitish to resign as head of outgoing govt on Wednesday: Nitish Kumar is likely to be first elected as leader of the JD(U) legislature party at 11 am on Wednesday and after that, the leader of the NDA at 3.30 pm, before tendering his resignation to governor Arif Mohammed Khan as head of the outgoing government, the earlier report quoted an alliance leader as saying. Nitish Kumar will also submit a letter of support from all alliance partners of the NDA to the governor for the formation of the new government.
- Two deputy CMs or one?: In the outgoing administration, there were two deputy chief ministers- Samrat Choudhury, a leader from the backward classes, and Vijay Kumar Sinha, a Bhumihar - both of whom have been re-elected. To a question on the possibility of only one deputy CM, the above-mentioned BJP functionary said the issue will be discussed at the meeting in Patna, “taking into account issues of representation (both gender and caste)”. The JD(U) reportedly wants that if the BJP takes the Speaker’s post, then only one deputy CM be appointed, and is against two deputy CMs in Bihar, said an NDA leader.
- 'Surprise elements': A senior NDA leader said on Tuesday some “surprise elements” in the new cabinet are possible, considering the way things were unfolding. “The big mandate means a lot of work, and NDA may like to have a new-look team blending youth with experience without affecting the social equation,” the NDA leader said.
- Formula for ministerial positions: The parties are considering a formula of roughly one ministerial position for every six MLAs to maintain balanced representation within the alliance, HT earlier reported. Under this arrangement, the RLM and HAM(S) are each likely to receive one berth, the LJP(RV) may get three, and the remaining 30-31 positions would be shared between the BJP and the JD(U), according to a senior NDA leader The Constitution limits the size of a state cabinet to 15 per cent of the total strength of its assembly. With 243 seats in the Bihar assembly, the state can have a maximum of 36 ministers, including the chief minister.
- Nitish's 10th time as CM: If Nitish Kumar takes oath as chief minister on Wednesday, it will be his 10th term. As Bihar’s longest-serving chief minister, Nitish Kumar has worked with six different deputy chief ministers - five from the BJP and one from the RJD - since 2005. The oath-taking ceremony will mark the fourth such event at the Gandhi Maidan. Only in 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was the ceremony held as a low-key affair at the Raj Bhawan.
- Both BJP, JD(U) eyeing home portfolio: As negotiations for key portfolios and the position of speaker ahead of their respective legislature party meetings remain underway, people aware of the matter say the BJP and the JD(U) are both eyeing the portfolio of home, which was with the latter in the last term. The education ministry - which was with the JD(U) - is also a point of contention, the people said.
- Bihar election results: The NDA secured a massive majority in the recently concluded assembly elections, winning 202 seats in the 243-member assembly, with the BJP bagging 89, the JD(U) 85, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) 19, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) five and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha four. The NDA restricted the Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress, to 35 seats.
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