Following the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) resounding victory in the Bihar Assembly elections, Janata Dal (United) supremo Nitish Kumar is all set to assume office as Chief Minister of Bihar for a historic 10th term.
A day before the swearing-in ceremony, Nitish Kumar will be formally elected as the leader of the NDA in the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. Thereafter, he will submit his resignation as the head of the outgoing government to Governor Arif Mohammad Khan.
The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for Thursday at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states, and other senior leaders are expected to attend the event.
Samrat Choudhary, Vijay Sinha to Continue as Deputy Chief Ministers
In a decision that maintains continuity in the state’s leadership structure, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has elected Samrat Choudhary as the leader of its Legislature Party in Bihar, ensuring his continuation as one of the two Deputy Chief Ministers. Union Minister Nityanand Rai confirmed the development. Senior BJP leader Vijay Sinha, who will retain the other Deputy CM post, has been named the party’s Deputy Leader of the Legislature Party.
These decisions were formalised during a meeting of newly elected BJP MLAs held on Wednesday, ahead of the formation of the new government. Both the JD(U) and the BJP conducted their respective legislature party meetings on Wednesday, retaining the existing leadership arrangement among their top ranks.
During the JD(U) meeting in Patna, party supremo Nitish Kumar was unanimously chosen as the leader of the legislature wing. JD(U) minister Shravan Kumar stated that the decision was taken in anticipation of the broader NDA meeting, where Nitish Kumar is also expected to be elected as the alliance’s leader in the state.
Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha will continue in their roles as Deputy Chief Ministers when Nitish Kumar takes oath as Chief Minister for the 10th time on Thursday at Gandhi Maidan.
Speaking to reporters after his election, Samrat Choudhary said, “I thank the party leadership and all MLAs who have again given me a chance to lead the party. The BJP has expressed its faith in the BJP, and the party will try to meet their expectations.”
NDA’s Landslide Victory and Seat Tally
The NDA secured a decisive mandate in the recently concluded Bihar Assembly elections, winning 202 out of the 243 seats. The seat distribution among allies is as follows:
- BJP: 89 seats
- JD(U): 85 seats
- Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) – LJP(RV): 19 seats
- Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM): 5 seats
- Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM): 4 seats
Portfolio Negotiations and Speaker’s Post
According to earlier reports, NDA constituents engaged in intense negotiations over the past few days regarding key portfolios in the upcoming Bihar Cabinet. The post of Assembly Speaker is likely to remain with the BJP, while Chief Minister-designate Nitish Kumar is expected to retain the crucial Home Ministry, despite pressure from the BJP notwithstanding.
Sources informed that the names of two prominent BJP leaders have already been shortlisted for the Speaker’s position, with the final decision to be taken at Wednesday’s BJP legislature party meeting in Patna.
Contrary to earlier speculation that NDA ally Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas) might be offered one of the Deputy CM posts as part of power-sharing arrangements, the BJP has retained both Deputy Chief Minister positions.
Also Read: Bihar CM Nitish resigns, expected to return tomorrow
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