A Record 10th Term: Kumar Rejoins NDA
Patna: In a major political realignment, Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record-extending 10th time today. The oath-taking ceremony, held at the Raj Bhavan in Patna, was administered by Governor Rajendra Arlekar, officially marking Kumar’s return to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
High-Profile Attendance: PM Modi, Amit Shah at Raj Bhavan
The significance of the event was underscored by the presence of the nation’s top political leadership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President JP Nadda attended the ceremony, signalling the national importance of this alliance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Their presence served as a powerful endorsement of the renewed partnership and a major show of strength for the NDA.
New Cabinet Takes Shape: BJP Gets Two Deputy CMs
Alongside Nitish Kumar, a new cabinet began to take shape, reflecting the power-sharing agreement of the new coalition. Prominent BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers. This dual-deputy CM formula is a strategic move by the BJP to balance caste equations and assert its influence in the new government’s administration.
Why Nitish Kumar Quit the ‘Mahagathbandhan’
This stunning political pivot comes less than 18 months after Kumar broke ties with the BJP to form the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress. His resignation on Sunday morning, followed swiftly by staking a claim to form a new government with BJP‘s support, has sent shockwaves through the opposition’s I.N.D.I.A. bloc, an alliance Kumar himself helped architect.
After resigning, Kumar told the media that “things were not right” within the Mahagathbandhan and that the decision was made after consulting his party’s MLAs. The move has drawn sharp criticism from his former allies, with the RJD accusing him of “betraying the mandate” of the people.
Impact on 2024 Lok Sabha Elections
Often dubbed ‘Paltu Ram’ for his frequent political switches, Nitish Kumar has once again demonstrated his ability to remain indispensable in Bihar’s political landscape. His 10th oath-taking ceremony is a testament to his unparalleled political maneuvering.
For the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, this development is a significant setback, depriving them of a key founder and a major state just months before the general election. The immediate challenge for the new NDA government in Bihar will be to prove its majority on the floor of the house. With the JD(U)’s 45 MLAs, the BJP‘s 78, and support from Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM(S) (4 MLAs), the coalition comfortably crosses the majority mark of 122 in the 243-member assembly.
As the dust settles on the Bihar CM oath ceremony, the political equations for 2024 have been significantly altered, reaffirming that Bihar’s politics remains as unpredictable as ever.
