Nitish oath likely on Nov 20

Patna: After a resounding victory in Bihar Assembly elections, the oath-taking function is likely to take place on November 20 after the two-day Chhath festival is over by November 18.

Like previous occasions, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will take oath again at the historic Gandhi Maidan where apart from Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, West  Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal are likely to be present.

Though the modalities of Cabinet are being worked out in consultation with all the three partners of the Grand Alliance, sources said 16 members from the RJD, 15 from the JD(U), including Nitish, and five from the Congress could be sworn in.

As per the constitutional mandate, only 15



per cent of the total strength of the House (Bihar Assembly has 243 members) can take oath as ministers, which essentially means the strength of the ministry cannot exceed 36.

Commenting on the BJP, Nitish on Wednesday said the dissenting voice within the party over loss in Bihar Assembly polls showed that “to every action, there will be an equal and opposite reaction”.

Refusing to be drawn further into the BJP “internal war”, Nitish said the Cabinet meeting will take place on November 14 which will recommend to the Governor to dissolve the House.

Later, the legislature party meet of all the three parties JD(U), RJD and the Congress will take place. “After that, we will inform the Governor about the date when the swearing-in function could take place,” said Nitish.