Nitish Kumar may take oath as Bihar Chief Minister for a fourth successive term next week but the date has not been finalised yet, a close aide said on Thurday.
However, speculation is rife in political circles that he will be sworn in on Monday, the day “Bhaiyya Dooj” festival will be celebrated, as it is considered an auspicious day.
He will visit the State party headquarters later Thursday to meet the newly elected MLAs and other JD(U) functionaries.
Raj Bhavan sources said they have not received any communication about when the swearing-in ceremony will take place.
Before he is sworn-in as the Chief Minister again, Nitish Kumar has to tender his resignation to the governor.
The newly elected MLAs of the NDA are yet to meet formally and elect Kumar as their leader.
However, with top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, strongly endorsing Kumar as the Chief Minister, there are no doubts over a fourth straight term for him in the high office.
Chief Electoral Officer H R Srinivas, meanwhile, submitted the list of winning candidates in the Assembly elections to Governor Phagu Chauhan at Raj Bhavan.
Talking to reporters for the first time after the NDA’s victory, Nitish said the date for his swearing-in ceremony will be discussed at an “informal” meeting of all the four NDA constituents on Friday.
He said it is for the alliance spearhead BJP to take a call on whether to retain the LJP in the NDA. “You make suggestions to this effect,” Nitish replied laughingly when asked whether he would ask the BJP to drop the LJP from the NDA at the Centre in the wake of its brinkmanship that scuppered the chances of JD(U) candidates in several seats.
“In any case, it is for the BJP to decide. I have nothing to say in the matter,” said Nitish.
Friday, 13 November 2020 | PTI | Patna
