Nitish Kumar to Take Record 10th Oath as Bihar Chief Minister

Nitish Kumar, the chief of the Janata Dal (United), is poised to take the oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record 10th time on November 20, 2023. This follows a decisive victory for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the recent assembly elections, where they secured a commanding majority.

Preparations for the swearing-in ceremony are well underway at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan, with significant attendance anticipated. Among the dignitaries expected to be present are Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Reports indicate that over 300,000 people may attend the event, prompting extensive security measures and the construction of multiple pandals for VIPs.

On November 19, Kumar submitted his resignation as the outgoing Chief Minister to Governor Arif Mohammad Khan. He was accompanied by several notable figures, including Union Minister Chirag Paswan and Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha. Following his resignation, Kumar was elected as the leader of the NDA Legislature Party in a meeting with newly elected MLAs.

The assembly meeting also saw Samrat Choudhary being selected as the BJP Legislature Party leader, while Vijay Kumar Sinha was appointed deputy leader. The meeting included Keshav Prasad Maurya, who acted as the central observer for the leadership election, alongside Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and former Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.

Cabinet Formation Underway

As the NDA partners negotiate cabinet positions, the new Bihar Cabinet is expected to feature 16 ministers from the BJP and 14 from JD(U), including Kumar himself. Reports suggest that there is a consensus to appoint BJP’s Prem Kumar as Assembly Speaker, with the position of Deputy Speaker likely to go to JD(U).

Among the anticipated new faces in the Cabinet are JD(U) state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha, who won from Mahnar, and several others, including Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Vijay Kumar Choudhary, and Shrawan Kumar. The BJP is considering retaining many of its existing ministers while introducing a few newcomers, potentially including former IPS officer Anand Mishra and others like Rana Randhir and Gayatri Devi.

With the NDA’s recent electoral success, securing 202 of the 243 seats in the Bihar assembly, expectations are high for the new government. The BJP won 89 seats, while JD(U) secured 85 seats, and smaller allies also made notable gains.

Political Landscape and Future Remarks

In related news, Prashant Kishor, founder of Jan Suraaj, expressed regret over his decision not to contest the Bihar elections, describing it as a “mistake.” He acknowledged that his party garnered less than 4 percent of the vote and stated, “I will not back down without winning Bihar.” Kishor’s commitment indicates a continued engagement in the political landscape, despite the challenges he faces.

As the swearing-in ceremony approaches, the political dynamics in Bihar continue to evolve, with significant implications for governance and policy in the state. The commitment of the NDA to a stable and effective administration will be closely watched in the coming months.