Senior Janata Dal(United) leader Nitish Kumar will take oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the fourth time on Sunday.
Those expected to attend the oath-taking ceremony include Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, his son and UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Congress leader C.P. Joshi, INLD leader Abhay Chautala and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee, Bahujan Samajwadi Party chief Mayawati.
Party sources said the RJD may join the Nitish cabinet with three members, including a post of Deputy CM.
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The Congress too is likely to a part of the Nitish government but, sources said, after it proves its majority on the floor of the assembly on March 11.
The Congress’ State party chief Ashok Chaudhury and Sadanand Singh are said to be hot contenders to become a member of the Nitish cabinet.
Dulal Chand Goswami , the lone independent candidate supporting Nitish Kumar during the recent crisis, is all set to join the new ministry while CPI MLA Subodh Roy would be waiting for his party’s decision.
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However, the buzz is that Nitish Kumar will take oath along with at least 10 cabinet ministers, largely his long time loyalists and some new faces who had supported him in his power struggle to replace Jitan Ram Manjhi from his post.
Mr. Manjhi, meanwhile, has said if invited he would like to go to the oath-taking ceremony of Nitish Kumar and congratulate him for his new stint.
Party sources also told The Hindu that Nitish Kumar would expand his ministry after proving a majority on the floor of the house.