Nitish Kumar (ANI)
NEW DELHI: Nitish Kumar submitted his resignation as Bihar chief minister to governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Monday, marking the formal end of the outgoing NDA government. Before this, the government’s final cabinet meeting “authorised” Kumar to recommend dissolution of the assembly. The 10-minute meeting, chaired by him, unanimously passed the resolution, official sources said.
Even as the current term concluded, the shape of the next government has become clearer. JD(U) president Nitish Kumar will take oath as chief minister for the 10th time on Thursday, November 20, a senior party leader told TOI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend the ceremony, and at least one deputy chief minister is expected to be named.Talks among alliance partners have also settled the formula for cabinet berths. Along with the JD(U) and the BJP, smaller allies — the Chirag Paswan-led LJP (RV), the Manjhi-led HAM-S and the Upendra Kushwaha-led RLM — will be part of the new government. “The LJP (RV) is likely to get three berths in the new state cabinet while the HAM-S and RLM one berth each. A maximum of 16 ministers from the BJP and 14 ministers and the chief minister from JD(U) will take oath on Thursday,” a senior BJP leader said.The NDA enters the new term with a strong majority, having won more than 200 seats in the 243-member assembly in the recent elections. The BJP led the tally with 89 seats, followed by the JD(U)’s 85.