After NDA's victory in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met the Governor. The assembly will be dissolved from November 19, and the swearing-in ceremony of the new government will be held on November 20 at Patna's Gandhi Maidan.
Patna: After the NDA secured a massive majority in the Bihar assembly elections, the process of forming a new government has accelerated. In this regard, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Governor Arif Mohammad Khan at Raj Bhavan on Monday. During this meeting, the Chief Minister presented three important proposals to the Governor.
Details of the Chief Minister's Proposals
JDU leader Vijay Chaudhary stated that Nitish Kumar presented three proposals to the Governor. The first proposal was for the dissolution of the current assembly from November 19. The second proposal was to commend all officials, along with the Chief Secretary, for the cooperation extended by all officers and employees of Bihar throughout the assembly's tenure. The third proposal was related to expressing congratulations and gratitude from the ministers to the Chief Minister regarding the NDA's success in the current elections.
By meeting the Governor and presenting these proposals, Nitish Kumar ensured that the transition of government would be peaceful and smooth.
Final Cabinet Meeting and Legislature Party Meeting
The final meeting of the outgoing cabinet was also convened today, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. In this meeting, the Chief Minister thanked the ministers for their cooperation and contributions during the assembly's tenure.
After the meeting, Nitish Kumar went directly to Raj Bhavan and met the Governor. After the meeting, he prepared to return to the Chief Minister's residence. Tomorrow, there will be a meeting of the BJP and JDU legislature parties, where Nitish Kumar will be elected as the leader of the legislative party. According to sources, there is consensus among all parties on this selection.
On November 20, the swearing-in ceremony of the new government in Bihar is likely to be held at Patna's Gandhi Maidan. On this occasion, several central and state-level leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, may also be present.
NDA's Grand Victory
In the two-phase assembly elections in Bihar, the NDA secured a grand majority by winning 202 seats in the 243-member assembly. The BJP emerged as the largest single party, winning 89 seats. The JDU also performed better compared to the 2020 elections, securing 85 seats.
Additionally, Union Minister Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) won 19 seats. Smaller allies like HAM (S) and RLM won 5 and 4 seats respectively. Thus, the NDA's total majority, with 202 seats, surpassed the three-fourths majority mark.
How Many Ministerial Posts Each Party Will Get
The distribution of ministerial portfolios will be determined according to the number of MLAs. The BJP might get 15-16 ministerial posts, while the JDU will receive 14.
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) might secure three ministerial positions. Meanwhile, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) are likely to receive one ministerial post each. This clearly indicates that the cabinet will have fair representation for new faces and alliance partners.
Potential Cabinet Formula
Experts believe that the cabinet could comprise a total of 35-36 ministers. The BJP and JDU will hold a significant portion of these portfolios, while smaller parties will also receive adequate representation. This equation will ensure that the new government remains b and stable.
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has also indicated that the distribution of ministerial posts will be balanced and fair to all allies. He stated that women, differently-abled individuals, and backward classes will also receive appropriate representation in the cabinet.
Preparations for the Swearing-in Ceremony
Preparations for the swearing-in ceremony at Patna's Gandhi Maidan are in full swing. The administration has made special arrangements for security and order. All new ministers, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, will be administered the oath during the ceremony.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the ceremony. Additionally, other Union Ministers and senior leaders from Bihar will also be present. According to media reports, the ceremony will be broadcast live at both state and national levels, so that the public can get a full account of the proceedings.
