Festivals may delay Nitish Kumar’s swearing-in

Bihar may have to wait for its new chief minister as a clutch of festivals this month is likely to delay the swearing-in ceremony of JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar

Bihar may have to wait for its new chief minister as a clutch of festivals this month is likely to delay the swearing-in ceremony of JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar.

Nitish Kumar (L) and Lalu Prasad,pose after addressing a news conference in Patna, November 8, 2015. (Reuters Photo)

Kumar will take the top job for the fifth time after delivering a crushing defeat to a BJP-led coalition that was banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity to win the crucial polls.

While leaders from the winning combine ducked questions on Monday about who would make it to the council of ministers, sources said the new government could take oath after November 18 with festivals like Diwali and Chhath to be celebrated in the next two weeks.

“Technically, there is time till November 29 to form the new government,” said state chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh. “The swearing-in will be planned accordingly.”

“After such a grand victory, the swearing-in will be equally grand and may be organised at the Gandhi Maidan,” a JD(U) leader said. “But a date will be decided only after consultations with all the partners. After Diwali, the parties may meet the elected leaders.”