INDIA.Bihar: As they prepare to form a new government together, Nitish Kumar, who resigned as chief minister in the current Bihar government, and Tejashwi Yadav, the 32-year-old opposition leader, have drawn major outlines of their understanding. They are forming a new government together.
Nitish Kumar will be the Chief Minister and his deputy will be Tejashwi Yadav. Allocation of all ministries will be Nitish Kumar’s prerogative. The speaker will be chosen from Tejashwi Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD.
Much depends on the governor’s actions, he met Nitish Kumar tonight; Tejashwi Yadav also attended the meeting. Other opposition parties like the Left and the Congress will participate in the new government led by Nitish Kumar.
Nitish Kumar will be sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister tomorrow at 2 pm after quitting the BJP on Tuesday and announcing a new ‘Grand Alliance’ that includes Tejashwi Yadav and other opposition parties.
“The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) of seven parties, one independent will work closely together,” Nitish Kumar said after his second meeting with the governor today.
In the first of these, he resigned as chief minister of a government that consisted of his party, the Janata Dal-United, or JDU, and the BJP; less than an hour later, he returned to the governor, accompanied by Tejashwi Yadav and other opposition leaders, to declare that they should be invited to form the next government based on their combined strength.
Even as his party was meeting, Tejashwi Yadav, held a separate meeting with his MLAs where it was agreed that he would support Nitish Kumar in the new government.
As per sources, Tejashwi Yadav will serve as Deputy Chief Minister and will be sworn in along with Kumar. “The BJP is betraying all its allies and intimidating others,” he said at a press conference with Nitish Kumar.
The BJP accused Nitish Kumar of “betraying the people’s mandate” by switching partners mid-term. However, this is an established trait in Nitish Kumar that has drawn huge criticism for his party swaps and willingness to change his ideological stand to remain in power.
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