Bihar, Nov 17 : Bihar is inching closer to installing a new government, with the outgoing cabinet scheduled to hold what is expected to be its final meeting on Monday. The session is likely to authorise Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to complete the formalities required for the transition.
A senior JD(U) leader said the cabinet is expected to pass a resolution empowering Kumar to approach Governor Arif Mohammed Khan with a proposal to dissolve the current Assembly. This comes soon after Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjiyal submitted the list of newly elected MLAs from the recently concluded Assembly polls to the Governor.
NDA gears up for power transition
The NDA has secured a sweeping mandate, winning more than 200 seats in the 243-member House. The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 89 seats, followed by JD(U) with 85. Chirag Paswan’s LJP(RV) secured 19 seats, while smaller allies HAM and RLM accounted for the remaining wins.
JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, after meeting BJP central leaders in Delhi, held discussions with Nitish Kumar on Sunday. Jha said the process of forming the new government would be completed “in a few days” and assured that the NDA would deliver on its promises.
Sources in JD(U) indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony, likely to be held at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan to accommodate a large gathering.
With JD(U)’s increased strength, the party hopes to negotiate a larger share of ministerial berths this term. Managing the expectations of newer allies particularly LJP(RV) and RLM may, however, be challenging. Chirag Paswan has expressed willingness to join the government but has remained noncommittal on whether his party is seeking a deputy chief minister post. In the outgoing government, the BJP held both deputy CM slots Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha.
Meanwhile, HAM elected Sikandra MLA Prafull Manjhi as its legislative party leader, reaffirming its support for Nitish Kumar.
RJD battles deepening family rift after electoral setback
In contrast, the opposition RJD is coping with escalating internal strife following its poor performance. Rohini Acharya, daughter of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, has intensified her public outbursts on X, claiming harassment and verbal abuse after the party’s electoral defeat.
She alleges accusations of trading her kidney donation to her father for money and a poll ticket, and claims threats were made at her family residence. Rohini has pointed fingers at her brother Tejashwi Yadav’s close aides Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Yadav, Rachel Yadav and Rameez calling on party leaders to question them.
Acharya maintains she has the full support of her parents and sisters, even as the rift within the RJD deepens, adding to the party’s post election troubles.