Two days after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a thumping victory with 202 seats in the recently concluded Bigar assembly polls, the corridors of power in Patna is replete with intense political deliberations regarding various facets of government formation. However according to multiple reports, Nitish Kumar retaining his position as the chief minister is serving as one continuing constant.
Sources, quoted by News18 revealed the Bharatiya Janata Party-Janata Dal United's (BJP-JDU) alliance is likely to adopt the same formula as ticket distribution.
Nitish Kumar's JDU is likely to get the CM post, while the BJP and Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) one deputy CM each.
During the ticket distribution, for every MP, an NDA partner was given five-six assembly seats. So, it is likely that the same formula may be in place for cabinet berths. For instance, with 84 MLAs, the JDU could now get 14 berths.
The NDA's 'tsunami' swept away the opposition Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party. In the NDA, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 89 seats, Janata Dal (United) won 85, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJPRV) won 19, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (HAMS) won five, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha won four seats.
The swearing-in ceremony is likely to be held on Wednesday or Thursday, subject to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's availability, it has been learnt from the report.
Preparations have, meanwhile, begun at Gandhi Maidan in Patna for the event, which will mark Kumar's tenth term as Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar has reportedly convened a cabinet meeting on Monday, during which the outgoing 17th Assembly is expected to be dissolved. He is likely to resign afterward and stake claim to form the new government once the NDA elects its legislative party leader.
According to the cabinet-sharing formula agreed upon by alliance partners, the BJP is expected to receive 15-16 ministerial berths, the JD(U) around 14, the LJP (Ram Vilas) three, and HAM and RLSP one each, states the NDTV report.
The final date for the oath-taking ceremony will be confirmed after communication from the Prime Minister's Office.