Bihar is all set to witness the formation of a new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government under the leadership of Janata Dal (United) supremo Nitish Kumar on Thursday, as the 74-year-old veteran prepares to be sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state for a record tenth time at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna.
Nitish Kumar staked a claim to form the next government on Wednesday after he was unanimously elected leader of the NDA legislature party in Bihar. In the same meeting, Samrat Choudhary was elected leader of the BJP legislature party, while Vijay Kumar Sinha was chosen as his deputy.
The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 am and will be attended by several top national leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Bihar Government Formation: 10 Key Developments
- Nitish Kumar to become Bihar CM for the 10th time: JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar will continue his nearly two-decade-long dominance in Bihar politics by taking oath as Chief Minister once again, following the NDA’s massive victory in the 2025 assembly elections. Nitish tendered his resignation as the outgoing Chief Minister and subsequently staked claim before Governor Arif Mohammed Khan to form the new NDA government on Wednesday.
- Venue and timing of the oath-taking ceremony: The swearing-in will take place in a grand ceremony at the iconic Gandhi Maidan in Patna at 11:30 am on Thursday. This will mark the fourth occasion since 2005 that Nitish Kumar is taking oath as Chief Minister at Gandhi Maidan.
- Elaborate security and logistical arrangements: Elaborate security measures have been put in place under the supervision of the Special Protection Group (SPG). Patna Police has set up a special monitoring team at the control room that will keep a watch on the venue through drones. Around 128 CCTV cameras have been installed in and around the area, as reported by national media. More than 2,500 security personnel, 250 police officers, and over 250 magistrates have been deployed. Snipers have been positioned on high-rise buildings surrounding Gandhi Maidan. Roads leading to the venue have been barricaded, metal detectors installed at all entry gates, and strict traffic restrictions imposed on routes around the Maidan and adjoining areas. A senior BJP leader said over three lakh people are expected to attend the event.
- High-profile guests attending the ceremony: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president JP Nadda, and key NDA ally Chandrababu Naidu are among the prominent leaders expected to grace the oath-taking ceremony. Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Chief Ministers of several other NDA-ruled states are also likely to be present.
- Clarity on Deputy Chief Ministers: With Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha elected as leader and deputy leader, respectively, of the BJP legislature party, strong indications are that both will retain their positions as Deputy Chief Ministers. However, according to an ABP report, BJP leader Mangal Pandey is also in contention for one of the deputy CM posts.
- Suspense over Bihar Assembly Speaker: Uncertainty persists over the post of Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, which was held by BJP’s Nand Kishore Yadav in the outgoing House. Both BJP and JD(U) are eyeing the crucial position. Among the frontrunners are BJP’s Prem Kumar and JD(U)’s Vijay Chowdhary. JD(U)’s Narendra Narayan Yadav, who was Deputy Speaker in the previous assembly, is also a strong contender, The Indian Express reported.
- Tussle over key ministries: Both the BJP and JD(U) are vying for the crucial Home portfolio, which was with JD(U) in the previous government, according to an earlier report. The Education Ministry, held by JD(U) in the last term, is another major point of contention between the alliance partners.
- Cabinet expansion details: NDA leaders held marathon meetings on Wednesday to finalise the list of ministers and portfolio distribution. The final list will be submitted to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday morning, and ministers will be informed only hours before the swearing-in. It remains unclear whether Cabinet ministers will also take oath on Thursday itself. According to news reports, the new Cabinet is likely to have 16 ministers from BJP and 14 from JD(U), including the Chief Minister. Five to six new faces from both parties are expected. While JD(U) is likely to retain most of its existing ministers, BJP may induct three new faces while keeping the majority of its previous ministers.
- Ministerial berths for smaller NDA allies: Smaller constituents of the NDA will also get representation. As per an earlier report, the formula of one ministerial berth for every six MLAs is likely to be followed. One post each is expected to go to Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) – HAM(S); three berths to Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas); while the remaining 30–31 posts will be shared between BJP and JD(U). The Bihar Cabinet can have a maximum of 36 ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the 243-member assembly.
- Recap of Bihar 2025 election results: The BJP-JD(U)-led NDA registered a resounding victory in the 2025 Bihar assembly polls, winning 202 out of 243 seats. The opposition Mahagathbandhan was restricted to a mere 36 seats. Within the alliance, BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 89 seats. Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM won five seats, while Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party failed to win even a single seat.
Also Read: Nitish Kumar elected NDA leader in Bihar
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