Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was elected as leader of the NDA on November 19 ahead of the formation of a new Government under his leadership in the state. He will take oath as Bihar CM for a record 10th time at a grand ceremony in Patna on November 20. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, several other Union Ministers and CMs of NDA-ruled states are expected to attend the ceremony.
Meanwhile, intense lobbying is underway among the NDA partners to finalise allocation of cabinet berths, and a build a consensus over the post of Assembly Speaker ahead of the swearing-in ceremony Like the JDU, the LJP turned in a dominant show in this election, winning 19 of the 28 seats it was allotted for a better strike rate than even Nitish Kumar’s party. Sources said the JDU – now re-established as the ‘big brother’ in its relationship with the BJP – is expected take the lion’s share of ministerial berths at this time, with 10 MLAs, eight of whom were members of the outgoing Government.
The wily JDU boss – whose political longevity, critics complain, is fuelled by an uncanny ability to stay relevant and in power by switching and re-make alliances on the fly – is already independent India’s eighth longest-serving chief minister. And, if he serves out this term, he will be the longest-serving ever, eclipsing ex-Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s 24 years. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance cruised to victory in the Bihar election, sweeping 202 of the state’s 243 seats. The opposition Mahagathbandhan, consisting of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress, Mukesh Sahani’s Vikassheel Insaan Party, and a Left bloc, finished with just 35.
