Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, November 11
After a close finish, flurry of political activities had started in Bihar even as suspense prevailed not only for the Chief Minister but also for the next government.
With Nitish Kumar playing cards close to his chest, Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD had swung into action to form the next government in Bihar.
Bihar chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday remained silent on the results of the assembly elections. There was no reaction from JDU spokespersons or ministers on the results even today, He held closed door meetings with his trusted colleagues and Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhry, working president Ashok Kumar Chaudhary and general secretary RCP Sinha to discuss about cabinet formation also
The incumbent cabinet’s last meeting would be held here on Thursday when chief minister Nitish Kumar would recommend dissolution of the state assembly to pave way for the new House. He would go to Raj Bhawan to tender his resignation as Chief Minister.
Term of the present House expires on November 29. Chief election officer and principal secretary of parliamentary affairs department will call on the Governor Fagu Chauhan and submit the list of the newly elected MLAs after getting approval of the Election Commission. Sitting of the new assembly will start after Deepawali holidays, assembly secretariat said.
State assembly secretariat has booked 155 rooms in different hotels of the state capital for stay of the newly elected members. Arrangement for their movement from railway stations had also been made.
There was no clear word from either the BJP or the JDU on the cabinet formation. Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi clarified decision on the new chief minister or deputy chief minister would be taken by the parliamentary board of the party in consultation with the chief minister. Preliminary rounds of the talks were held between the state leaders of JDU and BJP yesterday night at CM House.
Modi said whether he would remain deputy chief minister would be decided by the BJP parliamentary board. But, according to the earlier declarations of the Prime Minister, Nitish Kumar would continue as CM, he said.
Chief Minister who had declared he would not contest an election from now was reluctant to continue. He had announced his retirement at Dhamdaha on November 5. He may nominate Sushil Modi as his successor in the NDA. A section of the BJP leadership here wants to put the union minister for law and justice, Ravishankar Prasad as next CM as JDU had its chief minister since 2005.
The BJP general secretary, Bhupinder Yadav while launching the BJP campaign in Bihar had regretted BJP had its chief ministers in Himachal to Assam,but it was playing second fiddle in Bihar only.
Demand for change in the chief minister has come from some senior BJP leaders too. Union minister of state for health Ashwini Kumar Chaubey said Niish Kumar should shift to New Delhi and facilitate elevation of either a forward caste or OBC leader as his successor.
Dr Ramakant Pandey, former MLA of BJP who is also Guru of the BJP president, J P Nadda in Patna University, today demanded replacement of the chief minister by a BJP leader. Pandey, a veteran RSS leader said Nitish Kumar is chief minister since 2005 and BJP followed the Coalition Dharma for the last 15 years. Now, Nitish Kumar should vacate the chair and allow BJP to occupy the CM office.
A day after the results Sushil Modi alleged because of presence of the LJP candidates, NDA lost 28 seats. Talking to media here, Modi said 28 NDA candidates were defeated because of the presence of the LJP candidates.
BJP leader said LJP was no more part of the NDA in Bihar. LJP caused damage not only to the NDA in Bihar, but to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah by defying their instructions. He admitted the Exit polls had shaken the BJP leaders. In a nail biting counting, NDA could get simple majority of three seats only.
Meanwhile, in the Grand Alliance too, silent activities are on to find possibilities of formation of a government replacing NDA. Party has proposed appointment of deputy chief ministers to lure the NDA partners-HAM(S) and VIP. Former chief minister Jeetan Ram Manjhi’s son is an MLC from RJD quota and he may be one of the deputy chief ministers in addition to the Vikash Sheel Insaan party chief, Mukesh Kumar Sahani, who lost the assembly elections.
There are 17 vacancies in the state legislative council. RJD has proposed Sahani would be elected to the council and appointed deputy CMs. The two leaders of HAM and VIP are in contact with the RJD’s chief ministerial candidate, Tejaswhi Prasad Yadav.
RJD sources said with support of 8 members of HAM and VIP and five MLAs of the MIM, the RJD led alliance would have the same number of seats-125 as enjoyed by the NDA. Two independents, one BSP and one LJP MLAs may also support RJD led-alliance. A senior RJD MLA today took initiative to have negotiations with the independents for their support to the RJD led alliance. If these newly elected MLAs support RJD led alliance, NDA would be reduced to minority as their wafer thin margin would be reduced.
