Nitish Kumar’s swearing-in with BJP’s support ‘finalised’, Sushil Modi to be Deputy CM

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, JD(U) sources said

New Delhi | Updated: January 26, 2024 06:36 PM IST

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Speculations were rife since Thursday over Nitish Kumar returning to the NDA fold. (Photo: PTI)

At a time when the ruling JD(U)-RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar is teetering on the brink with intense speculation in political circles that Nitish Kumar could cross over to the NDA again, sources said that the swearing-in ceremony of the Bihar CM with BJP’s support is “more or less finalised”. Sushil Kumar Modi will be taking oath as the deputy CM, JD(U) sources said.

The oath-taking ceremony will be taking place on Sunday, the sources added.

Amid talk of a deepening rift, the RJD and JD(U), on Thursday, held separate meetings while BJP state president Samrat Choudhary left for Delhi to hold discussions with top BJP leaders. He was accompanied by former BJP deputy chief minister Renu Devi.

While the RJD played down any such possibility, and there was no word from the Congress, INDIA bloc parties were bracing for the damaging blow should one of its tallest leaders exit. If Nitish crosses over, this would be the fourth time he would be switching sides.

Also Read | All’s not well between Nitish, rest of the Opposition: 5 signs of friction in Bihar and INDIA alliances

On the BJP side, at least three state leaders told The Indian Express that for the party, this would be a “win-win,” as it would not just be a morale booster for the BJP but also undermine the INDIA bloc at the national level.

In the Bihar Assembly of 243, the RJD has 79 MLAs; followed by the BJP’s 78; the JD(U)’s 45’ the Congress’s 19, the CPI (M-L)’s 12, two each of the CPI(M) and CPI, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)’s four seats, and the AIMIM’s one, plus one Independent legislator.

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