Patna: Putting all speculations to rest, JDU chief Nitish Kumar was unanimously elected leader of the NDA Legislature Party at a meeting in Patna and is set to return for a fourth consecutive term as Chief Minister of Bihar. Soon the NDA will stake claim to form the government with Governor Fagu Chauhan.
The meeting was attended by the NDA leaders of the four constituent parties – JD (U), BJP, Ham and Vikasan Insan Party (VIP). The meeting came two days after Nitish recommended his ministry to resign and dissolve the state assembly. Hours before the NDA meeting, the newly elected BJP MLAs held a meeting with state party chief Sanjay Jaiswal in Patna.
The NDA won 125 seats against 110 seats in the 243-member Bihar Assembly by the opposition Grand Alliance. Even though the BJP has emerged as a key partner in the NDA in Bihar, winning 43 seats of the ally JD (U), Prime Minister Narendra Modi put to rest all speculation as to who would lead the government, “every BJP and NDA workers will ensure that our pledge for the state under Nitish Kumar is fulfilled. ”
The JD (U) has the worst performance since the 2005 assembly elections. In his first interaction with the media after the election results, Kumar said that he never claimed the post of CM. He said, “I have not claimed any CM chair, the decision will be taken by the NDA. It is not yet decided when the swearing-in ceremony will take place, whether it is after Diwali or after Chhath. “
According to sources, Nitish was very upset with the way Chirag Paswan and his party had hurt JD (U). A senior BJP leader said, “He was very upset that Chirag spoiled the JD (U) ‘s equation in at least 25-30 seats. We somehow persuaded him to remain the CM, although the BJP’s role in Bihar is that of an elder brother. “
Also read in Hindi: Bihar: NDA ने नीतीश को चुना पार्टी का नेता, चौथी बार सीएम पद की लेंगे शपथ