After massive win, Nitish Kumar takes oath as CM of Bihar for fourth straight term

Janata Dal-United president Nitish Kumar took oath as the Bihar chief minister Monday evening. Fourteen other leaders of the NDA alliance -- seven from the BJP, four from the JDU and one each from the HAM and the VIP -- took oath as ministers in the new Bihar cabinet (see full list below). This is the fourth straight term in power for the JDU and the seventh time Nitish Kumar has taken oath as the chief minister of Bihar.

Nitish Kumar took at as Bihar CM around a week after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) scraped through in the Bihar election, winning 125 seats -- three more than the halfway mark of 122 in Bihar Assembly. The results were declared on November 10 after counting of votes that went past midnight. The counting of votes was delayed as the Election Commission had put in place strict Covid-19 protocol for the conduct of polls and at all counting centres.

Nitish Kumar's return as the Bihar chief minister -- despite almost 15 years of anti-incumbency -- has happened on the back of a strong show by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP outshone the JDU in the 2020 Bihar Assembly election, winning 74 seats and making the JDU, with its 43 seats, a junior party in the ruling



alliance in Bihar.

Along with Nitish Kumar, BJP leaders Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi also took oaths. They are expected to serve as his deputies. Nitish Kumar's long-time deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi of the BJP is unlikely to take the oath of office on Wednesday. The speculation is that the BJP is considering elevating Sushil Modi to a role at the central level.

Soon after taking oath, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said that the NDA government in the state will "will work together and serve the people". Nitish Kumar also addressed a much-talked about saying the decision not to induct former deputy CM Sushil Modi was that of the BJP.

Congratulating Nitish Kumar, PM Modi tweeted that the "NDA family will work together for the progress of Bihar" and that the Centre would lend "possible support for the welfare of Bihar". BJP president JP Nadda, who was present at the swearing-in, also tweeted, saying, "Congrats to @NitishKumar Ji and all newly sworn-in ministers. I am sure that under the guidance of PM @narendramodi Ji, NDA will give pro-farmer, women, youth and development-oriented govt in the state. I assure people of Bihar that NDA is committed to fulfil their aspirations."