
Amidst mounting speculation and heightened political tension, sources said to Indian Express that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may soon join forces with the BJP-NDA coalition. The swearing-in ceremony, reportedly “more or less finalized,” is expected to see Nitish Kumar taking the oath with BJP’s support, while Sushil Kumar Modi is slated to become the deputy CM, as per JD(U) sources.
The scheduled oath-taking ceremony is set to unfold on Sunday, adding further intrigue to the unfolding political drama in Bihar.
Against the backdrop of swirling rumors, both the RJD and JD(U) held separate meetings on Thursday. Simultaneously, BJP state president Samrat Choudhary, accompanied by former BJP deputy chief minister Renu Devi, left for Delhi to engage in discussions with top BJP leaders.
While the RJD downplayed the possibility of Nitish Kumar’s potential departure, and the Congress remained silent on the matter, the INDIA bloc parties prepared for the potential setback if one of their prominent leaders were to switch sides. If Nitish Kumar does cross over, this would mark the fourth time he has changed political allegiances.
In the current Bihar Assembly comprising 243 members, the RJD holds 79 seats, closely followed by the BJP with 78. The JD(U) has 45 seats, the Congress has 19, the CPI (M-L) holds 12, and two each belong to the CPI(M) and CPI. Additionally, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) secures four seats, while the AIMIM and an Independent legislator contribute one seat each.