Key Points
- Nitish Kumar unanimously elected leader of NDA and JD(U) Legislature Parties, to be sworn in CM for 10th time on November 20.
- Swearing-in at Gandhi Maidan, Patna between 11 am and 12:30 pm, with PM Modi, Amit Shah and CMs of BJP-ruled states likely to attend.
- BJP’s Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha to be Deputy Chief Ministers in the new government.
- NDA considering around 15–16 ministers from BJP quota, 14 from JD(U), with representation for Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi and Upendra Kushwaha.
- NDA scores landslide in Bihar polls: BJP wins 89/100, JD(U) 85/100, LJP (Ram Vilas) 19/29, HAM 5, RLM 4.
Patna: Nitish Kumar will be the next Chief Minister of Bihar, once again becoming the consensus face of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state. He was unanimously elected as the leader of the NDA Legislature Party in a key meeting held after the Assembly election results, shortly after JD(U) MLAs had formally chosen him as their Legislature Party leader.
Before taking oath, Nitish will submit his resignation as the outgoing Chief Minister at Raj Bhavan and simultaneously present the support letter of NDA MLAs to stake claim to form the new government. With this oath, Nitish Kumar will assume office as Chief Minister for the 10th time, further cementing his position as one of the longest-serving state leaders in India.
Swearing-In Ceremony at Gandhi Maidan, Big NDA Show of Strength
Nitish Kumar will be sworn in as Bihar’s 19th Chief Minister at a grand ceremony organised at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna. The ceremony is scheduled for November 20, between 11 am and 12:30 pm, with elaborate security and seating arrangements being made for thousands of invitees and workers.
Top national leaders of the NDA will attend the function, turning it into a major political event beyond a routine oath ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president, Union ministers and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states are expected to be present, projecting a united NDA with Nitish Kumar at the helm in Bihar.
Term Ending November 22, Need for Quick Government Formation
The current term of the Bihar Legislative Assembly ends on November 22, leaving a narrow window for government formation and transition. To avoid any constitutional vacuum, the NDA has fast-tracked its internal consultations so that the new cabinet can be sworn in on November 20 itself.
Along with the Chief Minister, a sizeable number of ministers from different alliance partners are expected to take oath in the same ceremony. This synchronised swearing-in will ensure that the new council of ministers is in place well before the Assembly term expires and governance continues smoothly without interruption.
New Cabinet Formula: BJP, JD(U), LJP, HAM, RLM to Share Power
According to initial seat-sharing indications, there could be 15–16 ministers from the BJP quota in Nitish Kumar’s new government. JD(U) is expected to have one Chief Minister and around 14 ministers, making it an equal partner in governance despite BJP emerging as the single-largest party.
Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is likely to get around three ministerial berths as recognition of its strong performance and its role in consolidating NDA’s support base. Jitan Ram Manjhi’s party (HAM) and Upendra Kushwaha’s party (Rashtriya Lok Morcha / RLM) are also expected to get at least one minister each, giving the cabinet a socially and regionally balanced character.
Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha to Continue as Deputy Chief Ministers
The BJP Legislature Party meeting has decided that senior leaders Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha will serve as Deputy Chief Ministers in Nitish Kumar’s new cabinet. Both leaders were earlier chosen as leader and deputy leader of the BJP Legislature Party, signalling a continuity of the power structure within the NDA.
Their presence as Deputy CMs is expected to ensure strong coordination between JD(U) and BJP, maintain caste and regional balance and give the BJP substantial say in major policy decisions. This combination also reflects the BJP’s strategy of projecting multiple leadership faces in Bihar while allowing Nitish to remain the coalition’s chief ministerial face.
NDA’s Landslide Victory in Bihar Assembly Elections
The backdrop of this government formation is the NDA’s emphatic victory in the Bihar Assembly elections. The BJP emerged as the single-largest party, contesting 100 seats and winning 89, significantly strengthening its organisational clout and bargaining power within the alliance.
Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) also contested 100 seats and won 85, reaffirming his strong base and appeal in the state despite multiple terms in office. Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilas (LJP-RV) contested 29 seats and delivered an impressive result, winning 19 of them, thus becoming an important player in the new power structure.
Jitan Ram Manjhi’s party secured five seats, while Upendra Kushwaha’s outfit won four, giving smaller allies enough numbers to demand a share in the cabinet. Together, these results gave the NDA a comfortable and stable majority, paving the way for Nitish Kumar’s smooth return as Chief Minister.
