Daijiworld Media Network – Patna

Patna, Nov 17: After the NDA’s resounding victory in the Bihar Assembly elections, JDU chief Nitish Kumar is all set to take oath as Chief Minister for the tenth time on Thursday, November 20 at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna. The ceremony is expected to be a grand show of NDA strength, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of NDA-ruled states likely to attend.

Elaborate preparations are underway in Patna, where senior administrative and police officials have held meetings to fine-tune security and organisational arrangements for the high-profile event.

In the two-phase polls held earlier this month, the NDA secured a massive mandate with 202 seats. The BJP won 89, the JDU secured 85 and the LJP (Ram Vilas) added 19 seats to the alliance tally, contributing significantly to the sweeping victory.

Reports indicate that the BJP may get around 15 cabinet berths in the new government, while the JDU is likely to receive 14. The LJP (Ram Vilas) may be allotted three ministerial positions. Smaller allies, including Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha, are expected to receive one berth each. The formal selection of Nitish Kumar as the NDA legislature party leader is expected to be completed today.

Nitish Kumar first became Chief Minister in 2005 after succeeding RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. Credited with steering Bihar onto a developmental path, he remains the state’s longest-serving Chief Minister, barring a brief break in 2014 when he handed over the post to Jitan Ram Manjhi.