Patna: Nitish Kumar resigned from his post as Chief Minister of Bihar on Monday as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) prepares to assume office following a landslide election victory. The resignation paves the way for a new cabinet to be sworn in on Thursday, November 20, at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna.
Sources confirm that Kumar submitted his resignation to the Governor earlier in the day, in alignment with the schedule for the new NDA government’s formation. The timing ensures that the ceremonial inauguration of the next government will proceed smoothly on November 20, with all formalities cleared.
Kumar’s resignation comes after the NDA’s emphatic win in the recent Bihar Assembly elections — the alliance secured 202 of 243 seats, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) capturing 89 and the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) 85, along with 19 seats for the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJP-RV).
Oath ceremony planned with top leaders in attendance
The swearing-in event on November 20 is being organised as a grand affair. The venue Gandhi Maidan has been chosen to reflect the magnitude of the victory, and preparations have been underway by the Patna administration and district leadership.
Key dignitaries are expected to attend, including Narendra Modi (Prime Minister), senior Union ministers and chief ministers from other NDA-ruled states — underscoring the national significance the alliance is placing on this state government formation.
Cabinet formula and political contours
While the exact ministerial lineup is yet to be made public, preliminary allocation hints at major representation for the BJP, with the JDU and partner parties such as the LJP-RV, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (HAM) and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) also in contention for portfolios.
The planned size of the cabinet runs around 30–32 ministers, reflecting the broader coalition strategy across alliance partners. According to the constitution, the maximum number of cabinet berths is capped at 15% of an assembly’s strength. Bihar has 243 assembly seats. It means it can have up to 36 ministers, including the chief minister.
“One slot each will likely go to the RLM and HAM(S), three to the LJP(RV), and the remaining 30–31 will be divided between the BJP and the JD(U). However, there may be some adjustments, and changes to the two deputy chief minister posts are also possible,” a senior BJP leader told HT, on condition of anonymity.
Moreover, the ceremonial grandeur of the oath-taking — with top national leaders present — signals the BJP’s intent to showcase Bihar as a model state under its leadership and to reinforce alliance unity going forward.
