PATNA : Political activity intensified on Sunday with the announcement of the final meeting of the outgoing Bihar cabinet, a procedural step seen as clearing the way for the formation of a new government. The cabinet session, scheduled for Monday, is expected to pass a key resolution authorising Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take the required steps ahead of the transition.
As per a notification from the cabinet secretariat, the council of ministers will convene on Monday. A senior JD(U) leader indicated that during this meeting, the cabinet will empower Kumar to meet the Governor and recommend the dissolution of the current assembly.
This move follows the visit of Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjiyal to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, during which he submitted the official list of newly elected MLAs from the recently concluded polls, the results of which were declared on Friday.
The NDA secured an overwhelming mandate, winning over 200 of the 243 assembly seats. The BJP emerged as the largest constituent with 89 seats, followed closely by the JD(U) with 85. Union minister Chirag Paswan’s LJP (RV) won 19 seats, while smaller allies HAM and RLM claimed nine more collectively.
Meanwhile, JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, who returned from Delhi after consultations with top BJP leaders regarding government formation, met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna. Speaking to the media, Jha said, “A new government will be in place within a few days. All details will be shared at the appropriate time. We remain committed to implementing every promise made in the NDA manifesto.”
A JD(U) insider, requesting anonymity, suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “almost certain” to attend the swearing-in ceremony. The event is likely to be held at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan, known for hosting large public gatherings. Modi, who addressed several rallies during the campaign, had vowed in his final speech to “return for the swearing-in of the new NDA government.”
The JD(U) leader also hinted that the party expects a larger share of ministerial berths this time. “Our strength in the assembly has increased significantly since 2020, when we had fewer than 50 MLAs. Naturally, we are seeking more cabinet positions,” he said. He acknowledged, however, that balancing the aspirations of allies—especially recent entrants like LJP (RV) and RLM—would be a difficult task.
On Saturday, Chirag Paswan confirmed his party’s willingness to join the government but avoided questions on whether the LJP (RV) sought the deputy chief minister’s post. In the outgoing government, both deputy CM positions were held by BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha.
In another development, HAM leader and minister Santosh Kumar Suman convened a meeting of the party’s legislators, where Sikandra MLA Prafull Manjhi was chosen as the legislative party leader. Suman stated, “We extend our complete support to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and are ready to continue serving the people of Bihar.”
As the NDA camp firmed up preparations for the new governing structure, the opposition RJD appeared engulfed in internal turmoil. Rohini Acharya, daughter of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, remained emotional and outspoken on social media and before the press.
Claiming she has faced abuse after the party’s poor poll performance, she alleged that she had been insulted, accused of “trading my kidney donation to my father for money and a ticket,” and that even a slipper had been raised at her parents’ home to strike her.
Rohini insisted she has “complete support from my parents and sisters,” but blamed her younger brother Tejashwi Yadav—seen as Lalu’s political successor—and his close associates for her distress.
“If you want to know what happened to me, ask Sanjay Yadav, Rachel, and Rameez,” she told reporters in Delhi, naming an RJD Rajya Sabha MP, her brother’s wife, and another key aide.
