As intense deliberations gain momentum to finalise the structure of the new NDA government in Bihar, both the BJP and the JD(U) are firmly staking their claim to the Assembly Speaker’s post, according to sources.
A crucial meeting between Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and the BJP is set to be convened in New Delhi on Tuesday, with the Speaker’s post high on the agenda, along with the allocation of key ministerial portfolios.
According to sources, both the BJP and the JD(U) are strongly staking their claim to the Assembly Speaker’s chair, with the BJP in particular reportedly determined to retain the post at all costs. In the outgoing Assembly, BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav served as Speaker, while JD(U)’s Narendra Narayan Yadav held the position of Deputy Speaker.
In addition to the Speaker, fierce bargaining is also taking place over several key government portfolios. State BJP leaders held late-night discussions in Patna to deliberate on the strategy, and some, including JDU leaders Sanjay Kumar Jha and Lalan Singh, are expected to travel to Delhi on Tuesday to join the high-level negotiations.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is holding parallel discussions with the coalition’s smaller allies — Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samta Party.
Sources indicate that an agreement has been reached with all three key partners regarding their roles in the new government. The NDA parties have reportedly agreed in principle to a formula that allocates one ministerial berth for every six MLAs.
Separate legislative party meetings for both the BJP and the JDU have been called for November 19. Following these individual sessions, a joint meeting of the entire NDA legislative party will also take place later that day. The culmination of these efforts is scheduled for November 20, when the new NDA government’s swearing-in ceremony will be held at Gandhi Maidan in Patna.
The process of forming the new NDA government in Bihar began on Monday after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and recommended the dissolution of the outgoing Assembly with effect from Wednesday. The JDU chief is set to meet the governor again on Wednesday to tender his resignation, along with a letter of support from all NDA constituents.
Along with Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister, other cabinet ministers are also expected to be sworn in to form the new government in Bihar.
The NDA secured a massive victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections, winning a total of 202 seats. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, followed closely by its ally, the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U), which won 85 seats. Chirag Paswan’s party bagged 19 seats. Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM secured five seats, while the Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Morcha won four.
The Mahagathbandhan managed to win only 34 seats. The RJD dropped sharply to 25 seats from its previous tally of 75, while the Congress secured just six of the 61 seats it contested, down from 19. The CPI(ML) Liberation won two seats, and the CPI(M) secured one. Among others, the AIMIM won five seats, while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Indian Inclusive Party secured one seat each.
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