Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony: 26 ministers inducted, focus shifts to portfolio allocation

Veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Thursday stressed the need to ensure economic equality and equal development of all states to fulfil the mandate of the Constitution, saying welfare doesn't just happen by "distributing money" in the elections.

Joshi suggested that to end discrimination, smaller states should be created out of existing ones with an equal number of constituencies in each of them and almost equal population.

Joshi said difference in economic status and development is "discrimination".

"Welfare doesn't happen by distributing money in elections," he said.

"Like people are raising this question today that you distributed money before elections. The government says it distributed money for welfare. They say no, you distributed money to purchase votes," the former BJP president said in a veiled reference to the tussle between the NDA and opposition over Bihar election results.

On Bihar elections, Union minister and LJP (RV) chief Chirag Paswan says: "I think the public has answered a lot of questions of the Opposition who had levelled several allegations. There is no bigger court than that of the public. When the public makes decisions for you, several questions end with a full stop".

"Be it PK or other Opposition leaders who had crossed all limits of arrogance and didn't even wait for the public mandate to announce their oath ceremony on 18th November," Paswan added, according to ANI.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: Earlier today, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed confidence that the newly-formed Bihar government under Nitish Kumar's leadership would “accelerate” the state's progress.

"Confident that the new NDA Government will accelerate Bihar's progress & contribute to our journey towards Viksit Bharat," a part of his congratulatory post for the new Bihar government on X read.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: As the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) forms the government in Bihar again, JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the chief minister of the state for a record 10th time on Thursday. Check out the list of the longest-serving CMs in India here.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: The swearing-in ceremony of the NDA government took place in a grand manner at Patna's Gandhi Maidan today. The ceremony was attended by several big leaders, including PM Narendra Modi, who was seen waving a ‘gamcha’ or scarf that became one of the highlights of the event. Watch the video here.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: Along with 74-year-old Nitish Kumar, who took oath as CM, 26 ministers took the oath of office. Of these, 14 were from the Bharatiya Janata Party, eight from Janata Dal (United), two from Lok Jan Shakti Party (Ram Vilas), and one each from Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM). See full list here.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: In a post on X, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has thanked the people of Bihar and promised that the state will be placed among the most developed states in the country.

He also thanked PM Modi, home minister Amit Shah and chief ministers of various states for attending his oath ceremony in Patna.

"With a commitment to Bihar’s all-round development, the NDA government in the state will work with full dedication, in cooperation with the central government. I am confident that with the support and blessings of the people of Bihar, we will place Bihar among the most developed states in the country.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: Union minister Anupriya Patel on Thursday extended greetings to Nitish Kumar after he took oath as the chief minister of Bihar.

"I extend my greetings to all Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his cabinet and NDA leaders and parties. All of them have worked very hard. We have full confidence that the NDA government will fulfil the expectations of the people... The people of Bihar will get to see development at a rapid pace," Anupriya Patel told reporters, according to ANI.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: Nitish Kumar's 26-member cabinet presented a mix of senior coalition leaders and 10 new entrants, according to PTI.

Kumar's cabinet retained senior BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, both of whom were deputy chief ministers in the previous government.

The BJP also brought back its former ministers — Mangal Pandey, Pramod Kumar, Surendra Prasad Mehta and Nitin Nabin. The saffron party's state chief, Dilip Jaiswal, who had resigned from the cabinet nearly two years ago, was also back in the council of ministers, according to PTI.

Another minister who is back after a break is Narayan Prasad. He had lost his post in 2022 when the CM abruptly quit the NDA and was not re-inducted upon the JD(U) supremo's return to the BJP-led coalition last year.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: Vice President CP Radhakrishnan has conveyed his greetings to Nitish Kumar on assuming office as chief minister.

"Heartiest congratulations to Shri Nitish Kumar ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar. Warm wishes to him and all the newly sworn-in ministers as they assume their responsibilities," he wrote on X.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has congratulated Nitish Kumar on taking oath as Bihar CM for a record 10th time.

''Under the guidance of the esteemed Shri @narendramodi ji and the strong leadership of Nitish ji, Bihar is moving towards new heights of progress and transformation; heartfelt best wishes on this historic occasion of taking the oath!'' he wrote on X.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: After taking oath, Bihar deputy CM Samrat Choudhary tells ANI: “This is a victory of the people of Bihar, of the democracy in Bihar, of the hard work of the people of NDA in Bihar, of PM Narendra Modi, of Nitish Kumar and of all NDA allies. The strong workers of Bihar worked hard and established democracy in Bihar. They didn't let Gunda Raj come to Bihar...I especially thank the women of Bihar who voted in large numbers...Bihar trusted PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar.”

As Patna’s streets erupted in celebration on Thursday with the NDA returning to power, a contrasting quiet enveloped the Jan Suraaj camp. While JD(U) president Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Bihar chief minister for a record tenth time at a grand ceremony in Gandhi Maidan, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant did silent introspection of the poll debacle. Read more.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has congratulated Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar on being sworn in as the chief minister of Bihar.

"I extend heartfelt congratulations to Shri Nitish Kumar ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar. I also wish him success in running an independent governance model for the next five years based on his core socialist ideology, ensuring positive and welfare-driven initiatives for the people," he said, according to ANI.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: After the oath taking ceremony of Nitish Kumar, Uttar Pradesh deputy CM KP Maurya tells ANI: "Neither Congress nor RJD can stop Bihar from progressing now..."

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: Apart from Nitish Kumar, 26 ministers took oath into the new Bihar cabinet on Thursday.

Here is a list of cabinet ministers who were sworn in today at the ceremony:

• Samrat Choudhary (BJP)
• Vijay Kumar Sinha (BJP)
• Dilip Jaiswal (BJP)
• Mangal Pandey (BJP)
• Vijay Kumar Choudhary (JDU)
• Bijendra Prasad Yadav (JDU)
• Shrowan Kumar (JDU)
• Ashok Chaudhary (JDU)
• Leshi Singh (JDU)
• Madan Sahni (JDU)
• Sunil Kumar (JDU)
• Ram Kripal Yadav (BJP)
• Santosh Suman (BJP)
• Nitin Nabin (BJP)
• Mohammad Zama Khan (JDU)
• Sanjay Singh Tiger (BJP)
• Arun Shankar Prasad (BJP)
• Surendra Mehta (BJP)
• Narayan Prasad (BJP)
• Rama Nishad (BJP)
• Lakhendra Kumar Roshan (BJP)
• Pramod Kumar (BJP)
• Sanjay Kumar Singh (LJP-RV)
• Deepak Prakash (BJP)
• Sanjay Kumar (LJP-RV)
• Shreyasi Singh (BJP)

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed confidence that the newly-formed Bihar government under Nitish Kumar's leadership would “accelerate” the state's progress. "Confident that the new NDA Government will accelerate Bihar's progress & contribute to our journey towards Viksit Bharat," a part of his congratulatory post for the new Bihar government on X read.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah was seen leaving a hotel in Patna following the swearing-in ceremony of the new Bihar cabinet under the NDA leadership in the city.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: Two leaders of the LJP(RV), which won 19 seats in the recently concluded Bihar elections were among those who were sworn in as cabinet ministers today.,

Sanjay Kumar and Sanjay Kumar Singh were sworn in as ministers in the oath-taking ceremony at Gandhi Maidan of Patna.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: Congratulating Nitish Kumar on taking the oath as the Bihar chief minister, PM Modi on Thursday called the Janata Dal (United) leader a “skilled and experienced administrator”.

“He has a splendid track record of good governance in the state. My heartfelt best wishes to him for the new term!” PM Modi said in a post on X.

Nitish Kumar oath taking ceremony LIVE: In his first public reaction since the humiliating Bihar election loss, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday congratulated Nitish Kumar Ji on taking the oath of office as the chief minister of Bihar.

“Heartfelt best wishes to all the ministers of the Bihar government who took the oath as members of the Council of Ministers,” Tejashwi Yadav said in a post on X.

“I hope that the new government will live up to the hopes and expectations of responsible people, fulfill its promises and declarations, and bring positive and qualitative changes in the lives of the people of Bihar,” he said.

Bihar oath taking ceremony LIVE: Shreyasi Singh, BJP leader who takes oath as Bihar minister today, thanked the public for the support.

Shreyasi Singh contested the Bihar elections from Jamui.

"I express gratitude towards the people of Jamui and my family members. The Cabinet, which took oath today, comprises both youth and experienced leaders," Shreyasi Singh said after taking oath as minister in the new Bihar cabinet.

Nitish Kumar oath ceremony LIVE: On NDA government formation in Bihar, LJP (Ramvilas) chief and Union minister Chirag Paswan on Thursday said this is a big responsibility.

"My government will work to put Bihar first and Biharis first with Prime Minister Modi's vision and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's experience...," he said, speaking to reporters after the grand swearing-in ceremony at Patna's Gandhi Maidan on Thursday.

Nitish Kumar oath ceremony LIVE: As Nitish Kumar took oath as chief minister of Bihar for the 10th time along with several other newly elected leaders to form a fresh NDA cabinet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a shoutout to the new team, saying it will take the state to new heights.

“My best wishes to all those who have taken oath as Ministers in the Bihar Government. This is a wonderful team, with dedicated leaders who will take Bihar to new heights. Wishing them the very best,” PM Modi said in a post on X after the swearing-in ceremony, which was attended by him, at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna.