The political landscape in Bihar is set for a significant transition as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar prepares to take oath for an unprecedented tenth term. The swearing-in ceremony for the new NDA government is scheduled to be held in Patna on November 20 or 21, marking a historic moment in the state's political history.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to grace the oath-taking event alongside several union ministers and top leaders from the National Democratic Alliance. The ceremony will take place at Patna's iconic Gandhi Maidan, where extensive preparations are currently underway.
Transition Timeline and Ceremony Details
According to the established timeline, Nitish Kumar will submit his resignation as the head of the outgoing government to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on November 19. The current state assembly will be dissolved effective the same day, following a recommendation made by Kumar during his meeting with the Governor on Monday.
The outgoing cabinet, in its final meeting, passed a resolution authorizing the Chief Minister to recommend the assembly's dissolution. Vijay Choudhary, a state minister, highlighted that the cabinet also passed another resolution thanking Kumar for leading the NDA to its "best ever performance" in Bihar.
Cabinet Composition and Alliance Dynamics
The new cabinet will see approximately 20 ministers taking oath alongside Kumar. The distribution reflects the alliance's composition, with about 6-7 ministers each from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United).
Additionally, two ministers from the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and one each from the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha will join the ceremony. The constitutional cap of 15% of the assembly's strength allows for up to 36 ministers in Bihar's 243-seat assembly, meaning other ministers beyond the initial 20 may be sworn in later.
The NDA's massive victory in the recent assembly polls forms the backdrop of this government formation. The coalition secured more than 200 seats, with the BJP winning 89 seats and the JD(U) closely following with 85 seats, demonstrating overwhelming public support for the alliance.
Political Meetings and Leadership Selection
Preparatory meetings are crucial to this process. The BJP and JD(U) held separate meetings to discuss their strategies and ministerial representations. The NDA allies are scheduled to meet on Wednesday to formally choose their leader, a position that Nitish Kumar is expected to assume given his party's strong performance and his experience as chief minister.
Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal confirmed to reporters that the newly elected BJP legislators would meet on Tuesday to elect their legislative party leader, finalizing their side of the representation in the new government.
This government formation represents a consolidation of the NDA's historic mandate in Bihar. The alliance's performance, described as their best ever under Kumar's leadership, sets the stage for a stable government that aims to continue the development initiatives of the previous administration while addressing new challenges facing the state.
