Bihar Cabinet Formula Finalised, Nitish Kumar To Remain Chief Minister: Sources

Nitish Kumar will remain the Chief Minister of Bihar, sources have indicated, with the formation of the new state government expected in another three days after the cabinet formula was finalised at a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The swearing-in ceremony of the Bihar NDA government is expected to be held either on Wednesday or Thursday, sources said, with the final date depending on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's schedule.

The NDA had won the Bihar elections with a massive mandate, with both the JDU and the BJP scoring way better than their 2020 performance. The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 89 seats, followed by JDU with 85 seats. Even their smaller allies, like the LJP(RV), HAM, and RLM, performed well.

Government Formation

The process to form the government gathers momentum today with the issuance of the notification for constituting the 18th Bihar Assembly. The Election Commission will brief Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on the final results, after which the Model Code of Conduct will come to an end.

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Nitish Kumar has called a cabinet meeting tomorrow. The dissolution of the outgoing 17th Assembly is likely to be approved at the meeting. Once the resolution is passed, Kumar will submit his resignation to Governor Khan, clearing the way for the next phase of government formation.

The NDA's constituent parties will then hold their legislature party meetings to elect the alliance's leader and then stake claim to form the new government.

Oath Ceremony

The November 19 or 20 date for the swearing-in ceremony will be confirmed once the prime minister's schedule is finalised. Preparations are already underway at Patna's Gandhi Maidan for what is expected to be a major show of strength by the NDA, with an extensive lineup of leaders poised to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Nitish Kumar, a record 10th time.

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Besides PM Modi, several Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, and Deputy Chief Ministers from the NDA-ruled states, and senior leaders from across the alliance are expected to attend the ceremony, with the NDA planning a high-impact display of unity and political muscle before the West Bengal assembly polls.

The Cabinet Formula

The formula for the cabinet formation was finalised at a meeting with Amit Shah in Delhi yesterday, sources said. It was also decided that Nitish Kumar will remain Chief Minister despite initial hesitation in the BJP to endorse him as their leader.

The BJP is likely to have the lion's share in the cabinet, followed by the JDU, with even the smaller allies being accommodated in the cabinet plan. The NDA followed a 'one minister for every six MLAs' formula for deciding the cabinet plan, said sources.

The BJP is expected to get 15 or 16 ministerial berths and the JDU 14, sources said. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), headed by Union Minister Chirag Paswan, is likely to get three. Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) may get one berth each.