Suspense over Nitish Kumar’s deputy

There is still suspense in the Grand Alliance as to who Nitish Kumar will appoint as his deputy as there is confusion within the RJD on the issue of their Legislature Party leader.

According to sources, the RJD has submitted a list of 16 ministers while JD(U), being a second largest party, has prepared a list of 15 ministers and the Congress is likely to get five ministerial berths.

According to RJD leaders, “Lalu Yadav has been authorised to take decision on the issue and he will soon announce the name of RJD’s Legislature Party leader.”

Sources say Lalu Yadav and former chief minister Rabri Devi is facing difficulty in persuading their eldest son Tej Pratap. Party leaders had proposed the name of their younger son Tejaswi Yadav as the Legislature Party leader as he is “more politically active”.

With absolutely no hurdles in forming a government in Bihar, Nitish Kumar is now focusing and asserting more on “good governance” and “imposing strict rule of law in the state”.

After he was offered to form the government by governor Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday, chief minister Kumar said, “We will not compromise on the issue of law and order, we respect people’s mandate and this kind of mandate from people is enough for us to understand what people want from us. Overall development will be our priority.”

Nitish Kumar is all set to take oath as the chief minister of Bihar in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on November 20 after the auspicious Chhat Puja. The decision was taken after legislators of the Grand Secular Alliance unanimously elected him as their leader on Saturday in a meeting in Patna.

Nitish Kumar, after being elected as Legislature Party chief and recommending dissolution of the state Assembly, staked claim to form the government in Bihar. After his meeting with state governor Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday he said, “The governor has invited me form the government. I will take oath on November 20.”

Earlier on Saturday, Mr Kumar had submitted his resignation to the governor after the Cabinet decided to recommend the dissolution of the outgoing Assembly.