The newly elected NDA legislators in Bihar will meet in Patna on Wednesday (19 November) to choose their leader, with Nitish Kumar expected to be re-elected as head of the alliance’s legislature party. A total of 202 MLAs from the BJP, JD(U), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Morcha will attend. Once chosen, the NDA leader will stake claim to form the next government.
Ahead of this, the BJP and JD(U) will hold separate meetings to elect their legislative leaders. Both parties are also holding discussions on cabinet size and portfolio allocation. Senior JD(U) leaders Sanjay Jha and Lalan Singh are in New Delhi for talks with top BJP leadership. Preparations are underway for the swearing-in at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on Thursday (20 November), which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several BJP CMs are expected to attend. The state cabinet has recommended dissolution of the current assembly on 19 November. Nitish Kumar is likely to resign tomorrow before staking claim to form the new government.