Nitish Kumar gestures after being as NDA Legislature Party leader.
Credit: PTI Photo
Patna: Bihar is likely to witness a historic moment on Thursday when Nitish Kumar will take oath as Chief Minister of the State for the 10th time.
Nitish was unanimously elected leader of the NDA Legislature Party (NDALP) here on Wednesday at a joint meeting of all the allies of the NDA, following which he submitted his resignation as Chief Minister of the outgoing government to the Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, this evening.
Earlier, Nitish was elected leader of the JD (U) Legislature Party, while at a separate meeting of the BJP leaders, Samrat Choudhary was elected leader of the BJP Legislature Party, while Vijay Sinha the deputy leader. Incidentally, both Samrat and Vijay were the Deputy CMs in the outgoing Government.
Though there is still suspense whether there will be second Deputy CM from the BJP or whether LJP (R) president and Union Minister Chirag Paswan could fill in the slot for the second Dy CM post, NDA sources said once Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaches Patna to attend the Thursday swearing-in, the mist will be clear.
“Both options are open. One, there could be two Dy CMs from the BJP. Second, one person from the Centre could be appointed as Deputy CM,” said the source in an oblique reference to Chirag, adding that the LJP (R) chief Chirag wanted his brother-in-law Arun Bharti, who is an MP from Jamui, to be sworn in as Dy CM. But the proposal failed to cut much ice with the JD (U) leadership as well as the BJP. “Chirag is presently in the race for the Dy CM post,” said the source.
Probable ministers
Those who are likely to be sworn in as ministers along with Nitish include Samrat Choudhary, Vijay Sinha, Nitish Mishra, Nitin Navin (BJP), Vijay Choudhary, Bijendra Yadav, Ashok Choudhary Shravan Kumar (JD-U), Raju Tiwary (LJP-R), Santosh Kumar Suman (HAM) and Snehlata Kushwaha (RLM).
The swearing-in will take place at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Thursday afternoon and will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and other CMs from the BJP-ruled States.
Speaker tussle
Meanwhile, the JD (U) wanted to have its own leader as the Assembly Speaker on the plea that the Legislative Council Chairman is from the BJP. However, top BJP leaders conveyed it to the JD (U) that since the CM chair was with the JD (U), the Assembly Speaker’s post should go to the BJP. In all probability, senior BJP leader Prem Kumar could be the new Speaker.