Bihar is poised for a significant political transition as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is expected to meet the state governor today to submit his resignation, paving the way for the formation of a new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
Key Developments in Government Formation
The newly elected Janata Dal (United) legislators will convene in Patna for a crucial meeting today. Following this gathering, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is anticipated to call on Governor Rajendra Arlekar and formally tender his resignation from the current administration.
This procedural step becomes necessary as the term of the 17th Bihar Assembly officially concludes on November 22, 2025. According to reliable sources familiar with the developments, the swearing-in ceremony for the new government is likely to occur either on Wednesday or Thursday of this week.
Power-Sharing Formula Finalized
In a significant development that underscores the alliance's cohesion, both the Bharatiya Janata Party and JD(U) are set to receive an equal distribution of ministerial positions under the initial power-sharing arrangement finalized by the NDA.
This arrangement holds particular importance given that both parties contested an identical number of 101 seats during the recent assembly elections. The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 89 seats, closely followed by the JD(U) with 85 seats in the 243-member legislative assembly.
The carefully negotiated proposal also allocates ministerial berths to other alliance partners. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is expected to receive two ministries, while the Rashtriya Lok Morcha and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) may be offered one ministerial position each.
Leadership Decisions and Deputy CM Conundrum
The Bharatiya Janata Party has expressed unanimous support for retaining Nitish Kumar as the Chief Minister, acknowledging his extensive administrative experience and governance track record as instrumental in securing the NDA's strong electoral performance.
However, one key decision remains pending - the appointment of Deputy Chief Ministers. The situation surrounding outgoing Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary has generated considerable speculation, particularly following allegations raised against him during the election campaign.
BJP leaders have indicated that the alliance's decisive mandate and Choudhary's own victory from the Tarapur constituency suggest that voters have largely dismissed these charges. Nevertheless, the final decision regarding deputy chief ministerial positions is expected to be announced in the coming days as the government formation process reaches its conclusion.
The current outgoing government featured a lopsided ministerial distribution with 22 ministers from the BJP and only 12 from the JD(U), making the new equal-sharing arrangement a notable shift in the alliance's power dynamics.
