PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday met Governor Arif Mohammad Khan at the Raj Bhavan and requested him to dissolve the current assembly on November 19, a day before the likely swearing-in ceremony of a new government of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state.
Nitish is set to take oath of office for a record 10th time since 2005. Swearing-in ceremony is likely to be held at Gandhi Maidan on November 20, which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries, including several union ministers and chief ministers of BJP ruled states.
On Monday morning, Nitish chaired the meeting of the state cabinet, which authorised him to request the Governor to dissolve the current assembly on November 19. Once the assembly is dissolved, Nitish is expected to tender his resignation to Governor as head of the outgoing government and then stake claim for formation of a new government under his leadership.
Prior to this, Nitish will be elected as leader of the NDA legislature party. Both Bharatiya Janata Dal and Janata Dal (United) have convened their legislature party meetings to pave the way for the installation of a new NDA government in the state. For the purpose, he will be elected as NDA legislature party leader.
Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal said that Nitish will take oath as CM again. “Preparations are underway at Gandhi Maidan for the oath taking ceremony to be held there. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony,” he told the media.
After the election results, leaders of coalition partners met Nitish Kumar at his official residence in Patna to discuss formation of the new government. There has been speculation that several new faces may be inducted as ministers in the new cabinet under Nitish’s leadership.
Former deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Tarkishore Prasad told the media that BJP’s legislature party meeting would be held on Tuesday to elect Nitish Kumar as its leader. He clarified that Nitish would become the chief minister. He also dismissed rumours over deputy CM’s name.
According to the cabinet-sharing formula agreed upon by alliance partners, BJP and JD(U) are expected to receive 16 ministerial berths each, LJP (RV) three, and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM and Upendra Kushwaha’s RLM one each.
While JD(U) will get CM’s post, BJP and LJP (RV) are likely to get one deputy CM post each. In the 2025 assembly election, NDA secured a three-fourth majority (202 seats) in the 243-member Bihar assembly. Of them, BJP won 89, JD(U) 85, LJP(RV) 19, HAM five and RLM two seats only. “This is almost similar to 2010 assembly election results in which NDA had won 206 seats,” said a senior BJP leader.
