Grand Alliance 2.0: Nitish Kumar To Take Oath As CM; Tejashwi As Deputy CM

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This will be the eighth time since 2005 when Kumar will be taking the oath of chief minister and second time as the head of the Grand Alliance

Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar is set to take oath on Wednesday afternoon as the second Grand Alliance is likely to become a reality again.

This will be the eighth time since 2005 when Kumar will be taking the oath of chief minister and second time as the head of the Grand Alliance.

Kumar has been the chief minister of Bihar for over 15 years.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Lalu Prasad’s youngest son Tejashwi Yadav is also in fray to become the deputy chief minister for the second time.

Earlier, he was the deputy CM of the state from 2015 till mid-2017.

The official Twitter handle of RJD said only Kumar and Tejashwi will be taking their respective oaths but reports suggest that other ministers will also be taking oaths.

The strength of the ministry would be around 35.

After severing ties with the BJP, Kumar, on Tuesday handed over the letter of support of 164 MLAs comprising of seven parties to the governor who invited him to form the government.

Leaders familiar with the development said RJD with 79 MLAs are likely to have 16 ministers, JD (U) with 45 MLAs will have 14 ministers as per the formula worked out by the new alliance partners.

Congress with 19 MLAs is likely to get three berths while Left and HAM-S will get a berth each.

The coveted post of Speaker, which became the bone of contention between the BJP and the JD (U) is likely to go to the RJD.

“It is natural that the RJD will have the lion’s share in the cabinet, but it will also stake claim to key portfolios, including finance and home department. Nitish Kumar has always kept home with himself. The Speaker’s chair will also be with the RJD. Even BJP got Speaker’s chair,” said a senior RJD leader.

According to reports, JD(U) could retain all the ministers who were part of the NDA government with the addition of Upendra Kushwaha’s name. The RJD list also includes the name of Lalu’s eldest son Tej Pratap Yadav. Santosh Kumar Suman, son of HAM-S chief Jitan Ram Manjhi will be party’s lone representative while the name of BPCC president Madan Mohan Jha is doing the rounds in Congress circle.