Nitish meets Bihar Governor, stakes claim for forming new Government
   Date :16-Nov-2020

Nitish meets _1 &nbs
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, (R) Janata Dal (United) President and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, (2nd L) BJP State President Sanjay Jaiswal and others attend the NDA legislature party meeting in Patna on Sunday. (PTI)
 
PATNA :
 
Swearing-in will take place today around 4-4.30 PM. Around 16 to 17 Ministers are expected to be sworn-in along with Nitish Kumar
 
Katihar MLA Tarkishore Prasad has been unanimously elected as the leader of BJP legislature party in Bihar
 
 
BIHAR Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday met Governor Phagu Chauhan, after being unanimously elected as the leader of the NDA, and staked claim for the formation of the new Government in the State. Talking to reporters outside his residence upon returning from the Raj Bhawan, Kumar said the swearing-in will take place on Monday evening and parried questions about details like whether BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi would be returning as his Deputy. “The Governor was handed over the letter of support from all four constituents of the NDA. As per his direction, we shall be taking oath at the Raj Bhawan, tomorrow, around 4-4.30 PM”, said Kumar, who is on course to become the longest serving Chief Minister of Bihar.
 
“After the swearing-in, we will convene the meeting of the Cabinet where a decision on convening the Assembly session will be taken”, said Kumar but evaded queries as to whether the BJP, which has won more seats than the Chief Minister’s JD(U), has sought a greater representation in the Cabinet. Around 16 to 17 Ministers are expected to be sworn-in along with Chief Minister-designate Nitish Kumar in the oath-taking ceremony on Monday, but it was not clear yet if Sushil Kumar Modi will return as Deputy Chief Minister. Asked about Sushil Kumar Modi, known to be close to Kumar, he quipped “all things will be settled”.
 
Speculations have been rife that Modi may be replaced and these intensified after the senior BJP leader did not accompany Kumar to the Raj Bhawan but went to the State Guest House along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who has flown down as an observer of the BJP. The fourth term Katihar MLA Tarkishore Prasad was on Sunday named as the BJP legislature party leader, indicating he could be deputy Chief Minister in the new NDA Government headed by Nitish Kumar. Bettiah MLA Renu Devi has been made party’s deputy legislature party leader and she could be another Deputy CM from the BJP. Sushil Kumar Modi proposed name of Prasad as the party’s legislature party leader which was seconded by all the newly-elected MLAs. Prasad will perform the responsibility this time in place of Sushil Modi.
 
Not much is known about Prasad in the political circles. He hails from the Kalwar caste, which is a part of the Vaishya community that comes under the backward class category. Prasad won from Karihar assembly segment in the current assembly elections for the fourth straight term. “Congratulations to Tarkishoreji for being unanimously elected as the leader of BJP legislature party,” Modi tweeted in Hindi.