Bihar Government political crisis updates | Nitish Kumar takes oath as Bihar Chief Minister

Chhattisgarh minister and BJP leader Brijmohan Agrawal on Sunday claimed a situation similar to Bihar will be seen in other (non-BJP) states in future.

“The entire country will be coming under an umbrella as works being done under BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modiji’s leadership are aimed at the development of common people, the poor, labourers, youths and women. Therefore everyone wants to be associated with BJP and Modi ji,” the School Education Minister told reporters. - PTI

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), a member of the opposition INDIA grouping hit out at Nitish Kumar saying “betrayal” was his political character.

The party said the JD(U) chief himself doesn’t know where he belongs.

“Nitish Kumar’s resignation was expected as betrayal has been his political character,” JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya told PTI.

Mr. Bhattacharya said Kumar wanted to continue as CM and ultimately resorted to joining hands with the NDA.

He said Mr. Kumar has already “betrayed” several leaders including Karpoori Thakur, George Fernandes, Sharad Yadav and Lalu Prasad and ultimately the people of Bihar. - PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his X handle, congratulated Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on becoming the CM of Bihar again. “The NDA government formed in Bihar will leave no stone unturned for the development of the state and to fulfill the aspirations of its people,” he posted.

BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary, Vijay Kumar Sinha, Prem Kumar take oath.

JD(U)’s Vijendra Yadav, Shrawan Kumar take oath.

HAM’s Santosh Kumar Suman, Sumit Kumar Singh (Independent) take oath.

The swearing in ceremony has come to an end at Raj Bhawan in Patna.

Outgoing Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav hit out at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after he resigned from the post to form a government with the NDA after days of speculation, saying that the JD(U) will be ‘finished’ by 2024 as it will cease to exist as a political party.

Speaking to ANI, Mr. Yadav also hinted at more political developments in the state and said that ‘the game is yet to begin’.

- ANI

Nitish Kumar took oath as chief minister of Bihar for 9th time amid chants of Jai Shri Ram and Nitish Kumar zindabad in Rajendra Mandapam hall of Raj Bhawan.

Mr. Kumar had taken oath as CM of the state for the first time in March 2000. He was in the chair at that time for just seven days.

- Amarnath Tewary

Nitish Kumar’s swearing-in ceremony begins with the presence of BJP president J.P. Nadda and LJP chief Chirag Paswan

- Amarnath Tewary

Ahead of Nitish Kumar’s swearing in ceremony for the 9th time, BJP president J.P. Nadda reached Raj Bhawan along with Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan.

Nitish Kumar too has reached Raj Bhawan for the oath taking ceremony.

The TMC slammed JD(U) president Nitish Kumar for his “repeated political somersaults” after he dumped the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Bihar, and asserted that people will respond fittingly to such “opportunism”.

“Nitish Kumar is known for his political somersaults at regular intervals. It is unfortunate that he has decided to quit the opposition grouping INDIA and is likely to join the NDA. The people will give a befitting reply to such political opportunism,” Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Roy said.

- PTI

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will take oath as NDA chief minister of the state, for ninth time, at 5 p.m. at Raj Bhawan today.

Along with Mr. Kumar and two Deputy CMs from BJP quota Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha , six other ministers like Bijendra Yadav, Santosh Kumar Manjhi who is son of HAM(S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, Shrawan Kumar and others will take oath today.

Vijay Chaudhary, Sumit Kumar (independent legislator supporting Mr. Kumar) and BJP leader Prem Kumar too would take oath.

Total 128 MLAs of NDA have given their support to Mr Kumar.

- Amarnath Tewary

While speaking to the media in Begusarai poll strategists Prashant Kishor said,”Today’s incident showed that all the political parties and leaders of Bihar are Palturam (turncoat), Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and BJP leaders are equally big Palturam (turncoat), who were saying that the door of BJP is closed for Nitish Kumar in Bihar.”

- Amit Bhelari

A post on X by the Raj Bhavan’s official handle said “Leaders of JD(U), BJP and HAM and an independent MLA met Bihar Governor Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to stake claim to form the government under the leadership of caretaker Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar.

“Guinness book of world records has now changed to Nitish book of world records,” says Congress leader Pawan Khera

Read more here.

After being elected as NDA leader Nitish Kumar along with senior BJP leaders has reached the Raj Bhawan to submit the letter of support to the Governor and stake claim to form the government.

- Amarnath Tewary

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in a post X, said that the party was aware ahead of time of Nitish’s intentions to switch alliances. He said that RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav were the ones to inform the Congress party.

Read more here.

Former CM and founder of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) Jitan Ram Manjhi has reached Bihar CM residence along with four MLAs from his party.

Bihar BJP-in-Charge Vinod Tawde reached CM House along with Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha, both of whom are set to take oath as Deputy CMs of Bihar. 

- Amit Bhelari

The newly elected BJP legislative party leader Samrat Choudhary will be the Deputy Chief Minister of the State.

Deputy Leader of Party’s legislative Vijay Kumar Sinha will be another Deputy CM in Nitish Kumar’s cabinet, State BJP leaders confirmed to The Hindu.

Both the leaders Mr Choudhary and Mr Sinha have been vocal against Nitish Kumar. Mr Choudhary always wears saffron headgear and has said he would remove it after removing Nitish Kumar from the chair of Chief Minister of the State.

Mr Choudhary comes from OBC (Other Backward Class) while Mr Sinha comes from upper caste Bhumihar community.

- Amarnath Tewary

“Nitish Kumar, who frequently changes political partners, is giving tough competition to the chameleons in changing colours,” Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said in a post in Hindi on X.

The Congress leader said the people of Bihar will not forgive the “expert of this betrayal” and those who made them dance on their tunes.

“It is quite clear that the prime minister and the BJP are scared of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and this political drama has been created to divert attention from it,” the Congress leader said.

Read more here.

People of the State will teach a lesson to both BJP and JD(U) in time to come, we’ll take revenge with interest and compound interest from JD(U), claimed RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari.

- Amarnath Tewary

At the BJP legislators party meeting State party president Samrat Choudhary has been elected as legislative party leader and former Leader of Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha has been named as Deputy leader of legislative party .

Both Mr Choudhary and Mr Sinha thanked the party over their election.

The BJP leaders will move to the Chief Minister’s official residence to join JD(U) as NDA alliance.

While party leader Samrat Choudhary and others were leaving for CM’s residence, the gathered crowd broke out in chants of Jai Shree Ram at the State party headquarters.

- Amarnath Tewary

“It’s freedom from jungle raj” senior State BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, in an early reaction from the party. 

“We’re waiting as there was so much of pressure from RJD on Nitish Kumar not to resign”, Mr Singh added while speaking to media persons.

- Amarnath Tewary

When asked about why he decided to break away from the mahagathbandhan government in Bihar, Mr. Kumar said: “relations with other side [alliance partner (RJD) ] and our side too was not good, and therefore I decided to put in my papers.

When asked when the new government will be formed, Mr Kumar said, “you should wait and watch.”

- Amarnath Tewary

Following his resignation as the Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar spoke briefly to the media, saying: I want to tell you [media persons] that today I’ve resigned from the Government. Now this government has come to end, Mr Kumar told media persons.

Now I’m going to a new alliance to form the government, Mr Kumar added.

- Amarnath Tewary

At the JD(U) legislators meeting Nitish Kumar announced he was going resign and is about to leave for Raj Bhawan in few minutes to put in his papers before Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.

- Amarnath Tewary

Before going inside the CM house, JD(U) MLA Hari Narayan Singh said that it was always a good experience while working with the BJP. He also hit out at Tejashwi Yadav, saying Mr. Yadav has done nothing during his tenure. 

He further said that Bihar will develop more if the same government will be there in the State and Centre.

- Amit Bhelari

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan is also likely to visit Patna along with BJP president J.P. Nadda. They may attend the oath taking ceremony of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with two Deputy CMs ( from BJP ) and few cabinet Ministers.

It is said that three Cabinet Ministers each, from both JD(U) and BJP, will take oath today along with CM Nitish Kumar.

Meanwhile, RJD Ministers have not tendered their resignation yet as party chief Lalu Prasad has asked them not to resign now.

- Amarnath Tewary

Before going inside the CM House for the legislative party meeting, most of the JD(U) MLAs said they are standing with Nitish Kumar and his decision would be in the interest of Bihar.

- Amit Bhelari

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav has come out with a full- page advertisement highlighting his achievements in mahagathbandhan government, in some vernacular newspapers. The advertisement has been issued by RJD.

Yesterday, party MLAs held an over two-hour-long meeting. According to RJD sources, party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has asked the MLAs not to lose hope as the “game is not over yet”. He told the MLAs not to reveal the party’s strategy till “Mr. Kumar makes his next move”.

Read more on the meeting here...

Meanwhile, Hindustani Awam Morcha ( Secular) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi is said to have submitted letter of support, of his four MLAs, to the BJP.

BJP president J.P. Nadda is expected to come to Patna by a chartered flight at 3 p.m.

- Amarnath Tewary