Nitish Kumar takes oath as CM of Bihar, joins BJP-led NDA bloc after severing ties with 'Mahagathbandhan', 'INDIA'

Nitish Kumar, the president of JD (U), takes oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the ninth time at Raj Bhavan in Patna on Sunday, January 28 after he and his party joined the BJP-led NDA bloc.

Earlier, Nitish Kumar announced his resignation as Bihar's Chief Minister, citing "things not working well" in the Mahagathbandhan, which he had joined less than 18 months ago, and the opposition bloc, INDIA.

बिहार में बनी एनडीए सरकार राज्य के विकास और यहां के लोगों की आकांक्षाओं को पूरा करने के लिए कोई कोर-कसर नहीं छोड़ेगी। @NitishKumar जी को मुख्यमंत्री और सम्राट चौधरी जी एवं विजय सिन्हा जी को उप मुख्यमंत्री पद की शपथ लेने पर मेरी बहुत-बहुत बधाई।

मुझे विश्वास है कि यह टीम पूरे…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 28, 2024

The BJP extended their support to form the new government as the national president of the BJP, Jagat Prakash Nadda, arrived in Patna and attended the swearing-in ceremony.

Nitish Kumar took the oath in Nadda's presence, who will also be present at the meeting at the BJP office after the swearing-in ceremony. Bihar's BJP leaders, Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha, also took oaths as cabinet ministers.

Vijay Kumar Chaudhary of JD (U), Shrawon Kumar of JD (U), Prem Kumar of BJP, Bijendra Prasad Yadav of JD (U), Hindustani Awam Morcha president Santosh Kumar Suman, and independent candidate Sumit Singh also took the oath as ministers.

Earlier, speaking to the reporters following his resignation to Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Kumar stated: "If the parties which were with me earlier agree to come together, you will get to know what happens next."

"I have submitted my resignation to the Governor. The government that was in place now comes to an end. I have let it go," said Kumar, who stopped briefly to talk to reporters outside the Raj Bhavan.

The 72-year-old leader said he was dissatisfied with the state of affairs in the Mahagathbandhan and the INDIA bloc, which he assisted in shaping but which did not sufficiently acknowledge his work.

"You all know how I came to this alliance and also how I worked to bring together so many parties. But of late, things were not working well. It was not going down well with those in my party as well," said Kumar.

Prior to this, Kumar called a meeting of the JD (U) legislature party, during which he was given the authority to make any decisions about the partnership. As per the Raj Bhavan, Kumar has been requested to hold the position of acting Chief Minister until a new cabinet is formed.

In August 2022, Kumar broke relations with the BJP, claiming it was attempting to "split" his JD (U). At that time, he joined the Mahagathbandhan, and using a coalition of many parties, including the RJD, Congress, and three Left groups, he established a new administration.

The BJP has 78 MLAs, and the JD (U) has 45 in the present 243-member Bihar Assembly. One independent member is also in favour of Kumar. Four MLAs make up the Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha, which is already a member of the NDA.

With 114 MLAs overall—eight short of a majority—the RJD (79), Congress (19), and Left parties (16) have combined.

With inputs from PTI

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