Nitish Kumar to Resign, Paving Way for New NDA Government in Bihar
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to resign on Monday, clearing the path for a new government led by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a senior Janata Dal (United) – or JD(U) – functionary confirmed on Saturday. Kumar is expected to chair a final cabinet meeting of the outgoing administration before submitting his resignation to the Governor at Raj Bhavan.
Following the formal resignation, Kumar will attend a meeting of the JD(U)’s 85 newly elected legislators. A subsequent meeting of the broader NDA coalition is also planned, though the specific time and location remain to be determined. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), having emerged as the largest bloc within the NDA with 89 legislators, is anticipated to issue a formal statement regarding government formation on either Sunday or Monday.
The NDA’s sweeping victory in Bihar has positioned Nitish Kumar for a potential tenth term as Chief Minister. Sources indicate that NDA legislators will formally elect Kumar as their leader shortly after the BJP’s announcement. A senior NDA official suggested the oath-taking ceremony will “most probably” take place on Wednesday or Thursday.
Political activity surrounding Kumar has been intense, with a steady stream of visitors to his Patna residence since early Saturday morning. Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) – or LJP(RV) – president Chirag Paswan met with Kumar to discuss the formation of the new dispensation. Over two dozen senior representatives from various NDA allied parties, including Union Minister Lalan Singh, also called on the outgoing Chief Minister.
Strategic discussions regarding government formation and portfolio allocation have been underway across both New Delhi and Patna. JDU ministers have been engaged in meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to finalize details. JDU national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha stated to reporters, “Bihar’s voters have expressed faith in good governance… The state’s people have the most trust in Nitish Kumar.”
Jha, along with Lalan Singh, held further discussions with Kumar before traveling to the national capital to brief Shah on the ongoing deliberations. Elsewhere in Patna, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai met with Upendra Kushwaha, president of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), and his four MLAs. Rai declared the NDA’s victory as “massive,” attributing the success to a collective effort and asserting that the opposition Mahagathbandhan has been “wiped out.”
All five constituents of the NDA – the BJP, JDU, LJP(RV), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) – or HAM(S), and RLM – have initiated government formation exercises. The evolving political landscape in Bihar signals a continuation of NDA rule, with Nitish Kumar poised to lead the state for another term.
