Nitish’s Delhi visit to finalise new govt, next CM likely soon

Patna: Bihar is likely to get a new govt around mid April, shortly after the end of ‘kharmas’, the inauspicious period that concludes on April 14.

Some NDA leaders said on Wednesday the swearing-in could be pushed further. “The govt formation may be deferred till April 20, the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya,” they said.





According to NDA sources, the broad formula for the BJP-led govt in Bihar has almost been finalised. The final shape is expected to emerge during CM Nitish Kumar’s Delhi visit beginning Thursday, when he is expected to meet the BJP’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah.

Senior JD(U) leader and Bihar water resources minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary confirmed CM’s travel plans on Wednesday. “CM Nitish Kumar will go to Delhi on Thursday. He will depart at 3.20pm tomorrow by an Air India flight,” Choudhary said.

Nitish is also set to take oath as a Rajya Sabha member on April 10, a development reported earlier by TOI. Choudhary reiterated that the CM would take oath in the Upper House on that date.

Nitish’s move marks a major political transition, with Bihar’s longest-serving CM formally stepping into national politics after being elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16.

The same day, April 10, an important meeting of the Bihar BJP core committee is scheduled in Delhi. Sources said the party will seek formal consensus from state core committee leaders on the name of the next CM. PM Modi and Amit Shah may also attend the meeting, which is expected to be chaired by BJP national president Nitin Nabin, who hails from Patna.

During his expected three-to-four-day stay in Delhi, Nitish is likely to hold discussions with Modi, Shah and other senior NDA leaders to finalise the roadmap for the transition and formation of the new govt in Bihar.

NDA sources said Nitish is expected to return to Patna on April 12 or 13. He may convene a cabinet meeting on April 13, which could be the last one chaired by him as CM.

After returning, Nitish is expected to call a meeting of the NDA legislature party, likely on April 14, where he will formally inform MLAs of his decision to relinquish the CM’s post. Following that meeting, he is expected to go to Lok Bhavan with senior alliance leaders and submit his resignation to the governor.

After Nitish resigns, NDA legislators will meet again to elect a new leader of the NDA legislature party, who will then stake claim to form the govt. Sources said the name of Bihar’s next CM will be announced after that meeting.