Nitish Kumar is set to take oath as Bihar’s chief minister for a record 10th term, with the ceremony expected to be a grand showcase befitting the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) sweeping victory. A senior Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] leader said on Sunday that the date of the oath-taking will be finalised based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s availability. Modi, who wrapped up his Bihar campaign on November 9, had promised to return for the swearing-in after the NDA’s win.
According to JD(U) insiders, the Election Commission of India will submit the list of newly elected MLAs to the governor by Sunday evening—marking the first official step toward forming the new government. The current government will hold its final Cabinet meeting on Monday, after which Nitish Kumar will meet the governor to tender his resignation, paving the way for the next administration.
A second JD(U) leader indicated that the distribution of ministerial portfolios among alliance partners is largely settled. The new Cabinet is expected to feature a blend of fresh and experienced faces to reflect the massive mandate given by voters. As before, the Speaker’s post is likely to go to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Senior leaders, including Union ministers Sanjay Jha and Lalan Singh of the JD(U), along with Dharmendra Pradhan and Vinod Tawde of the BJP, have been holding intense discussions in Delhi to finalize the government’s structure. Jha noted that all decisions will be wrapped up soon, adding that the decisive mandate brings with it the responsibility to accelerate Bihar’s development.
BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal echoed the sentiment, saying that preparations for the oath ceremony are progressing smoothly and the wait is only for a few more days.
With the current Assembly’s term ending on November 22, the election process must conclude before then. Meetings of the legislature parties of all NDA allies, followed by a joint meeting, will be held on Monday and Tuesday to elect their leader. Nitish Kumar will officially stake his claim afterward with a consolidated letter of support.
A BJP leader stated that Cabinet berths are expected to be allocated based on the previous formula—approximately one ministerial position for every six seats won. The NDA secured 202 out of 243 seats, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) recorded its lowest tally ever at 25 seats.