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NEW DELHI: BJP leaders in Bihar said on Monday that the identity of the party’s first chief minister in the state will be known on Tuesday, as Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is expected to arrive in Patna to oversee the transition of power.Chouhan, appointed by the BJP high command as the central observer for the election of the new legislature party leader, will visit Bihar on a day when JD(U) president Nitish Kumar is expected to step down as chief minister.Kumar, Bihar’s longest-serving chief minister, turned 75 last month and was sworn in as a Rajya Sabha MP a week ago. He is expected to submit his resignation at Raj Bhavan immediately after his final cabinet meeting at 11 am, where he is likely to formally announce his decision to relinquish office.”Shivraj Singh Chouhan ji will be coming to Patna tomorrow and BJP legislators will be electing their leader in his presence,” the party’s Bihar unit president Sanjay Saraogi told news agency PTI.The leadership change will mark a milestone for the BJP, which is set to get its first chief minister in Bihar, the only Hindi heartland state where the top post has so far eluded the party. Even so, party leaders have remained cautious in their public remarks. Dilip Jaiswal, a minister and former Bihar BJP president, said, “It is an emotional moment for us. We hope that Nitish Kumar will continue to offer his guidance to the new government.”In the 243-member Bihar Assembly, the NDA commands a strong majority with 202 seats. The BJP holds 89 seats, followed closely by JD(U) with 85, while allies LJP(RV), HAM and RLM make up the rest.Jaiswal declined to speculate on who would be chosen as leader, saying, “It is the collective prerogative of the legislature party. I should not hazard any guess. Let Shivraj Singh Chouhan come tomorrow. All will be clear.”Neither Saraogi nor Jaiswal commented on the swearing-in ceremony, though speculation is growing that it may take place on April 14, with reports suggesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi could attend.Among the frontrunners, deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary is widely seen as a leading contender. Choudhary, who also holds the crucial Home portfolio, had earlier been described by Union home minister Amit Shah as destined to become “a big man.”However, critics within the party point out that Choudhary is not a lifelong Sangh Parivar member, having spent nearly two decades in rival parties including the RJD and JD(U). They also note that he was already appointed legislature party leader in November, suggesting that a fresh election may indicate the BJP is considering alternative names.Another strong contender is Nityanand Rai, Union Minister of State for Home, who began his political career as an ABVP activist during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and later served as Bihar BJP president before joining the Union cabinet in 2019.Party insiders told PTI the new chief minister is likely to be from an OBC or Dalit community, as the BJP is confident of retaining its upper-caste base but wants to broaden support among other social groups in Bihar’s caste-sensitive political landscape shaped by Mandal-era politics.Meanwhile, attention has also turned to Nishant, the only son of Nitish Kumar, who joined the JD(U) only last month.Some JD(U) leaders have suggested that the 44-year-old, who is not yet a member of the state legislature, could be inducted into the new cabinet as deputy chief minister. Others believe Nitish Kumar, who reportedly allowed his son’s political entry only under pressure from party workers, would prefer him to gain experience before taking on a major office.For now, the father and son appear to be accepting the transition with composure, as their belongings are being moved to another government bungalow near 1, Anne Marg, the chief minister’s official residence that is set to welcome a new occupant. Go to Source
