In a decisive political move, Janata Dal (United) supremo Nitish Kumar was on Wednesday unanimously elected as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) legislative party, paving the way for him to be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a historic tenth time. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for the iconic Gandhi Maidan in Patna at 11.30 am on Thursday, marking a grand commencement of the new government.
The decision was reached during a meeting attended by all 128 MLAs of the ruling NDA coalition, a testament to the alliance's consolidated support. The gathering saw the presence of key allies, including BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary, Keshav Prasad Maurya, and Vijay Kumar Sinha, as well as LJP (RV) chief Chirag Paswan and HAM's Jitan Ram Manjhi. The atmosphere was one of unity and purpose as the allies rallied behind Kumar's leadership.
The formal proposal for Nitish Kumar's name was put forward by BJP state president Samrat Choudhary, which was then met with unanimous approval from the assembled legislators. Following the meeting, Kumar is set to meet Governor Arif Mohammad Khan in the evening to formally stake his claim to form the next government, armed with a letter of support from all NDA partners. The current state assembly stands dissolved on Wednesday, making way for the new administration.
BJP Retains Deputy CM Posts; Chowdhary and Sinha to Continue
In a key organizational structure of the new government, the Bharatiya Janata Party will retain both Deputy Chief Minister posts. Samrat Chowdhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, who held these positions in the previous government, are set to be reinstated, ensuring a balance of power within the ruling coalition.
The NDA's return to power comes on the back of a resounding victory in the recently concluded high-stakes Assembly elections. The alliance secured a commanding majority, winning more than 200 seats in the 243-member House. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, closely followed by the JD(U) with 85 seats. The performance of other allies, including the LJP (RV) with 19 seats, HAM with 5, and the RLM with 4, cemented the coalition's strong mandate.
Welfare Agenda at the Forefront
The electoral victory is widely seen as an endorsement of the development and welfare agenda championed by Nitish Kumar's government. In the run-up to the polls, the government rolled out a series of populist measures that resonated with the electorate. These included significant increases in social security pensions and stipends for crucial grassroots workers associated with Jeevika, ASHA, and Anganwadi schemes.
A flagship initiative, the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, proved to be a game-changer, directly benefiting over one crore women by providing them with a financial assistance of ten thousand rupees each. This focus on women's empowerment and direct benefit transfer is believed to have played a pivotal role in securing widespread support.
As Bihar prepares for the grand swearing-in at Gandhi Maidan, a historic ground that has witnessed many political turning points, all eyes will be on the 75-year-old leader. Nitish Kumar's record tenth term is set to begin with a strong mandate and the formidable task of meeting the high expectations of the people of Bihar.
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