Bihar Political Crisis, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Resignation Today Highlights: Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar on Sunday took oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the ninth time. He was administered the oath of office by Governor Rajendra Arlekar at the Raj Bhavan in Patna. BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha took oath as deputy Chief Ministers in the Nitish Kumar-led government. Earlier, in the day, Nitish resigned as the Bihar Chief Minister and snapped ties with the Mahagathbandhan government that he led since his exit from the NDA in August 2022. Nitish said that he met Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar and tendered his resignation as the Chief Minister of Bihar. Later, he staked claim to form the government with the support of the BJP.
Also Read: Nitish Kumar to resign as CM? Bihar set for big shake-up, RJD-Cong brace for impact
The development marks yet another coup by Nitish, this time against the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress, paving the way for JD(U)’s return to the National Democratic Alliance less than 18 months after snapping ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Also Read: Bihar: How Lalu Yadav’s ‘BJP gameplan’ could checkmate Nitish Kumar
Bihar News Highlights: Nitish Kumar resigns as CM. Catch all Bihar Political developments and latest updates here.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh writes in a post on X, "Congratulations Nitish Kumar on taking oath again as the Chief Minister of Bihar and Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha on taking oath as Deputy Chief Ministers. My best wishes to all for this new team to start a new chapter of development and public welfare in Bihar."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday wrote in a post on X, "The NDA government formed in Bihar will leave no stone unturned for the development of the state and to fulfill the aspirations of its people."
https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1751579690371096647
Independent MLA Sumit Kumar Singh takes oath as a minister in the new Nitish Kumar-led government at the Raj Bhawan in Patna.
Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) president Dr Santosh Kumar Suman takes oath as a minister at Raj Bhawan in Patna on Sunday. He is the son of Jitan Ram Majhi and has been a former SC/ST welfare minister.
JD-U's Shravan Kumar takes oath as a minister at Raj Bhawan in Patna on Sunday. He is a seven-time MLA from Nalanda. He has worked as rural development minister.
BJP's Prem Kumar takes oath. He has served in various ministerial posts. He is an eight time MLA from Gaya town.
Vijendra Prasad Jadav a JD(U) leader, took oath as a minister at Raj Bhawan in Patna.
JD(U)'s Vijay Kumar Choudhary on Sunday took oath at Raj Bhawan in Patna.
Vijay Sinha takes oath at the Raj Bhawan as a minister of Bihar. The 64-year-old leader was elected the deputy leader of the BJP legislature party. He is a seasoned BJP leader from the upper caste and has held posts, including being the Speaker, a cabinet minister and Leader of the Opposition.
BJP leader Samrat Choudhary takes oath as a minister at Raj Bhawan in Patna. Choudhary was elected the leader of the BJP legislature party on Sunday.
Nitish Kumar takes oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the ninth time, after he formed a new government with the support of BJP. He was administered an oath to office by Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar.
BJP Bihar president Samrat Chaudhary, Vijay Sinha, Chirag Paswan and other leaders arrive at Raj Bhavan, in Patna to attend the oath ceremony of the new government. Earlier in the day, Nitish Kumar had resigned as the CM of the state saying that the "Mahagathbandhan" and the INDIA bloc alliance was not working.
Minister of State for Home Affairs and Ujiyarpur MP Nityanand Rai says that the BJP is forming government in the state along with JD(U) keeping in mind the welfare and development of the people of the state. He alleged that the RJD had established 'jungle raj' and was not allowing Nitish Kumar to work.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says that the "game has just started". Speaking to ANI, Yadav said that the "I can give you in writing that the Janata Dal (United) party will be finished in 2024. He also said that the INDIA bloc is strong, and "whatever happens, happens for the good".
BJP national president JP Nadda arrives in Patna ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, which is scheduled at 5 PM. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan seen with him. BJP Bihar president Samrat Chaudhary also seen at the Patna airport.
Patna: Preparations underway at Raj Bhavan ahead of oath-taking ceremony. Nitish Kumar is set to be sworn-in as the CM for the ninth time. Along with him, two deputies will also take oath.
"If one looks back at the remarks I have made in the last one year, I am the only person who has said on camera that Nitish Kumar can change sides anytime. People already know that Nitish Kumar is a "Palturam" and the "Sardar of Palturams". However, with today's move, it shows all political leaders and parties in Bihar are "Palturams"...The BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah are also "palturams". They have been saying that doors of the BJP are closed for Bihar...Till yesterday, they were abusing Nitish Kumar, and from today they are showing Nitish Kumar as a sign of good governance," says political strategist Prashant Kishor.
Vijay Sinha says that the oath taking ceremony will be held at 5 PM today and all MLAs will be present at the event. Sinha is likely to take oath as the deputy Chief Minister.
Celebrations outside BJP office in Patna as acting CM Nitish Kumar is set to join NDA shortly. (ANI)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's exit from the Mahagathbandhan alliance and consequently the INDIA bloc to align with the BJP is a "loss" for the Saffron party and a "gain" for the opposition alliance, Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK said on Sunday. Reacting to Janata Dal (United) President and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's move, which is being seen as a body blow to the INDIA alliance, DMK spokesperson J Constandine Ravindran said, "People will never accept this act of betrayal."
BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda has left his Delhi residence. He is expected to be in Bihar in a few hours and will be attending the swearing-in ceremony.
On JD(U) re-joining NDA, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan says, "I will attend the swearing-in ceremony today as an NDA ally. It is a matter of joy that NDA is coming to power in Bihar."
Deputy Leader of Bihar BJP legislative party, Vijay Sinha says that it is time to bring back good governance by bidding adieu to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Sinha is likely to take oath as the deputy CM of the state today.
In an apparent dig at Nitish, Prasad's daughter Rohini Acharya reposted a 2017 post by her father Lalu Prasad Yadav where he had said, "Nitish is a snake, just like a snake sheds its filth, similarly Nitish also sheds its filth and every 2 years, like a snake, he wears a new skin. Any doubts?"
The swearing-in ceremony of Nitish Kumar will be held at 5 PM today. He will take oath as the CM of the state, and Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha will be administered the oath as his deputies, reports ANI.
JD(U) president and acting CM Nitish Kumar, BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, Bihar BJP President Samrat Choudhary, BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha and others meet Governor Rajendra Arlekar to stake claim to form the government in the state at the Raj Bhavan in Bihar. Photos shared by Raj Bhavan on X.
https://twitter.com/GovernorBihar/status/1751511544909750417
Nitish Kumar has staked claim to form new government in Bihar with BJP's support, according to officials. The swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place today.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that he had hints that Nitish Kumar will leave the alliance. "Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav had given the hints. However, for the INDIA bloc to keep it intact, I didn't say anything, as that could send a wrong message," he said.
"There are several 'Aya Ram, Gya Ram' in India," Kharge added.
Bihar Assembly seats tally
The Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar, minus the JD(U), has 114 seats in the 243-member Assembly. The RJD has 79 seats, Congress has 19, CPI (M-L) has 12, while CPI and CPI(M) have 2 seats each. In the NDA, the BJP has 78 seats, the Hindustani Awam Morcha on 4 seats. With 45 MLAs, the JD(U)’s entry into the BJP would take the NDA’s strength to 127, 5 seats above the majority mark of 122 in the 243-member Assembly. The JD(U) also has the support of one Independent MLA.
The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) government in Bihar was formed following Nitish's exit from the NDA in August 2022. As per the formula being worked out between the JD(U) and the BJP, Nitish retains the CM's chair while the BJP keeps two deputy chief ministers as well as the Speaker's post for itself.