After days of speculation, Janata Dal (U) chief Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the ninth time at Raj Bhavan on Sunday, after snapping ties with ‘Mahagathbandhan’.
Alongside, BJP leaders Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha took the oath as Deputy Chief Ministers.
Governor Rajendra Arlekar administered the oath of office at the Raj Bhavan in the state capital.
Upon arrival of BJP chief JP Nadda, the people were heard chanting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name and slogans.
JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar resigned as the Chief Minister of Bihar on Sunday, his second volte face in less than 18 months.
Earlier in the morning, he quit as CM and snapped ties with the RJD and Congress.
Nitish Kumar cited the state of affairs being “not right” under the Mahagathbandhan alliance as his reason for quitting. He said that he has been receiving suggestions from everywhere, including his party workers, and he listened to all of them to come to this decision.
“I have resigned as the CM today and have asked the Governor to put an end to this government. Party leaders were giving me advice. I heard what they said and have resigned. The situation was not good. So, we have broken ties,” Nitish Kumar told reporters outside the Raj Bhavan.
Despite turbulence in state politics, Nitish, whether with the Mahagathbandhan or the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has managed to retain the CM’s chair and ensured that his party has not split over his repeated flip-flops.
In the Bihar Assembly of 243, the RJD has 79 MLAs; followed by the BJP’s 78; the JD(U)’s 45’ the Congress’s 19, the CPI (M-L)’s 12, two each of the CPI(M) and CPI, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)’s four seats, and the AIMIM’s one, plus one Independent legislator.
“I was with them (NDA) earlier too. We went on different paths, but now we are together and will remain so. Today, eight people have taken oath as ministers, the rest will take oath soon. Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha have been appointed as Deputy Chief Ministers,” Nitish Kumar told reporters.
When asked about RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s statement that “JDU will be finished in 2024”, Bihar CM said that our party will work for the development and progress of the state.
“We work for the development and progress of Bihar. We will keep doing the same, nothing else. Tejashwi was not doing anything. Now I came back to where I was (NDA) and now there is no question of going anywhere else,” he added.
After days of speculation, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar resigned as the Chief Minister of Bihar on Sunday, his second volte face in less than 18 months. Snapping ties with the RJD and Congress, Nitish will has formed a government with BJP’s support.
Despite turbulence in state politics, Nitish, whether with the Mahagathbandhan or the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has managed to retain the CM’s chair and ensured that his party has not split over his repeated flip-flops.
Nitish flip-flops – A Timeline
- 2022: Nitish Kumar snaps ties with the BJP, alleging the BJP was conspiring against him and trying to influence JD-U MLAs to rebel against him
- 2017: Forges Grand Alliance with the RJD and Congress and return as chief minister
Walks out of the Grand Alliance, accusing the RJD of corruption - 2013: Breaks ranks with the NDA after a 17-year alliance, following the announcement of Narendra Modi as the BJP’s PM candidate in 2014 polls
- 2000: Becomes CM for the first time after campaigning against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav’s ‘Jungle Raaj’.
Modi congratulates Nitish
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for taking the oath of office again- this time for the record 9th times.
In a post on X, the PM said that the NDA government formed in Bihar under Nitish Kumar will leave no stone ‘unturned’ for the development of the state. “The NDA government formed in Bihar will leave no stone unturned for the development of the state and to fulfil the aspirations of its people. I congratulate Nitish Kumar, Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha on taking oath,” he said.
Nitish kept us in dark: Kharge
Dehradun: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s move to split from Mahagathbandhan and to join the NDA was ‘pre-planned’ and accused him of keeping the I.N.D.I.A bloc in dark.
Tejashwi:JD(U) will be ‘finished’
Patna:RJD leader former deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav hit out at CM Nitish Kumar, saying that the JD(U) will be ‘finished’ by 2024 as it will cease to exist as a political party. He hinted at more political developments in the state