NDA legislature party meeting on Sunday to pick Bihar’s CM, says Nitish Kumar

At the meeting, elected legislators will decide who will lead the NDA in forming the government; an NDA leader said Nitish’s election was a mere formality as PM Modi had already endorsed his name

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders gathered at Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s residence on Friday, the first such event after the election results, and decided to hold a meeting of newly elected legislators of the four partners in the coalition on Sunday (November 15).

Bihar chief minister and Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar with deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, BJP state president Sanjay Jaishwal and others after a meeting, in Patna on November 13. (PTI)

Briefing mediapersons after the meeting, Kumar said that Friday’s meet was an informal interaction. “We sat together and decided to convene a meeting of elected legislators of all the four partners on November 15 at 12.30pm. All decisions will be taken in that meeting. After the meeting and election of the NDA leader, we will stake claim to form the government,” said Kumar.

The outgoing state Cabinet will be meeting for the last time on Friday and recommend dissolution of the assembly. “There will be a Cabinet meeting today,” said Kumar.

An NDA leader said that the election of Nitish Kumar as the leader of the alliance in Bihar was a mere formality. “Even PM Modi had endorsed his name on Wednesday,” he said.

In the wake of the outcome, there has been intense speculation over the BJP’s share in the new cabinet and over Kumar’s role in the government. However, the BJP has reaffirmed that it will stick to the coalition dharma and that Kumar will remain as the CM.

BJP functionaries, meanwhile, said its legislature party meeting is likely to be held on November 16.