Nitish Kumar to Sworn In with BJP Backing, Sushil Modi to Become Deputy CM
According to insiders, the swearing-in ceremony for the Bihar chief minister with the backing of the BJP is “more or less finalised” at a time when the current JD(U)-RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar is on the verge of collapse due to strong speculation in political circles that Nitish Kumar could rejoin the NDA. According to JD(U) sources, Sushil Kumar Modi will be sworn in as the deputy chief minister.
According to the reports, the ceremony for taking an oath will happen on Sunday.
The RJD and JD(U) had separate meetings on Thursday amid rumours of a widening divide, and BJP state president Samrat Choudhary departed for Delhi to meet with senior BJP leaders. Renu Devi, a former deputy chief minister for the BJP, accompanied him.
The Congress remained silent, and the RJD played down any such prospect, but the INDIA bloc parties were preparing for the devastating blow in the event that one of its biggest leaders left. Nitish would be switching teams for the fourth time if he crossed over.
At least three state leaders representing the BJP claimed that this would be a “win-win” situation for the party, since it would not only improve the party’s popularity but also weaken the INDIA bloc on a national scale.
With 243 MLAs, the RJD leads the pack with 79, followed by the BJP with 78, the JD(U) with 45, the Congress with 19, the CPI (M-L) with 12, the CPI(M) with two, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) with four, the AIMIM with one, and one Independent member.