Big Mandate, Big Ceremony: Bihar’s New Govt to Take Oath on Nov 20; Nitish Kumar's Resignation Expected Today

With

the NDA clinching a massive mandate, Bihar has shifted gears to the formal process of forming its new government. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to tender his resignation on Monday, setting the stage for a grand swearing-in ceremony on November 20 at Gandhi Maidan. Top NDA leaders, including the Prime Minister, are likely to attend the grand swearing-in ceremony. The NDA won a brute majority, bagging more than 200 seats of the 243-strong assembly, with BJP winning the maximum of 89 seats, followed by the JD(U)'s tally of 85, while Union minister Chirag Paswan’s LJP(RV) bagged 19, and another nine were won by smaller partners HAM and RLM.

PM Modi is likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Bihar government. Notably, PM Modi had addressed over a dozen rallies during the assembly poll campaign and at his last election meeting, he had promised to "be back for the swearing in of a new NDA government"."It is almost certain that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will fly down for the swearing-in ceremony. It will be a grand function, most likely at the historical Gandhi Maidan, which can accommodate a large number of people," a JD(U) leader told news agency PTI.

Bihar Cabinet Meeting Today

The Bihar cabinet will be meeting for the last time on Monday. The outgoing cabinet is likely to authorise Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take necessary action.

According to a notification of the cabinet secretariat department, the council of ministers will meet on Monday, when, according to a senior JD(U) leader, a resolution will be passed to "authorise" Kumar to meet the governor with the proposal to dissolve the outgoing assembly.

Manjhi, Kushwaha Meet BJP's Pradhan

Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) supremo Jitan Ram Manjhi and Rashtriya Lok Morcha president Upendra Kushwaha held separate meetings with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was the BJP's election in-charge in Bihar, at his residence in the national capital. Sources said both Manjhi and Kushwaha discussed with the BJP leaders government formation in Bihar and representation of their parties in the state cabinet.

The BJP's in-charge of political affairs in Bihar, Vinod Tawde, was also present when the two NDA allies visited Pradhan's residence. This comes amid the NDA's preparations to form a government in Bihar after its landslide victory in the state assembly polls.