Bihar Political Transition Begins as Nitish Kumar Set to Step Down
In a significant political development, incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is expected to resign from his position on Monday, marking the beginning of a formal transition of power in Bihar. The resignation comes ahead of the swearing-in ceremony for the new National Democratic Alliance government, which is tentatively scheduled for November 19-20.
Union Minister and HAM(S) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi confirmed the developments on Sunday, revealing that the Chief Minister will conduct his final cabinet meeting, deliver his vote of thanks, and subsequently submit his resignation to the Governor. The ceremonial aspects of the power transfer are being coordinated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's availability.
NDA's Massive Victory and Government Formation Process
The ruling NDA coalition achieved a decisive mandate in the Bihar Assembly elections, securing 202 seats in the 243-member legislative house. This impressive victory represents a three-fourths majority and marks the second time the alliance has crossed the 200-seat mark in assembly polls, having previously won 206 seats in the 2010 elections.
BJP MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal confirmed that the government formation process has already commenced. "The process for the government formation has begun, and the government will soon take form," Singh stated, emphasizing that the people of Bihar have overwhelmingly voted for development and progress.
Election Results Breakdown and Opposition Performance
The opposition Mahagathbandhan managed to secure only 35 seats, with the Rashtriya Janata Dal emerging as the largest opposition party with 25 seats. The Congress party won 6 seats, while left parties showed minimal presence with CPI(ML)(L) securing two seats and CPI(M) managing one.
Other significant performances included the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) winning five seats and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) securing one seat. The Indian Inclusive Party (IIP) also managed to win one seat in the closely contested elections.
The swearing-in ceremony is planned to take place at Gandhi Maidan, though the final date awaits confirmation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office. Political observers are watching closely as Bihar prepares for a smooth transition of power following the NDA's convincing electoral performance.
