Nitish Kumar, the great survivor of Bihar politics, is all set to take oath as the Chief Minister of the state for the tenth time on 19 or 20 November, if the BJP does not intend to throw a last-minute surprise, which is almost ruled out. But there will be some surprises in the names of deputy chief ministers, including the possibility of Chirag Paswan becoming one of the deputies of Nitish Kumar.
It is reported that Nitish Kumar's cabinet meets on 17 November to approve the dissolution of the 17th Assembly. He will then tender his resignation to Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, paving the way for NDA legislature party meetings to re-elect him as leader.
The swearing-in ceremony date depends on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's availability. The NDA partners, particularly the BJP, are getting ready to put on a show of strength, with attendance from the CMs and deputy CMs of BJP-ruled states, Union ministers, and PM Modi himself. The BJP wants to send a signal of unity ahead of the 2026 polls in West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Nitish Kumar had two Deputy Chief Ministers from the BJP — Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha. While Samrat Chaudhary seems certain to be repeated, the BJP may like to induct a fresh face, someone from the upper caste like Vijay Kumar Sinha. As Chirag Paswan has performed remarkably well, his party, the LJP (RV), is certain to join the Nitish cabinet, with a high probability of Chirag becoming one of the deputies.
Chirag Paswan is currently a minister in the Modi government in Delhi, but he also has a plan for Bihar. He has an aspiration to become the Chief Minister candidate for the 2030 assembly election. He has already returned to Bihar following the NDA's landslide victory in the assembly elections on 14 November. His swift move underscores the party’s pivotal role in pushing the alliance beyond the 200-seat mark, with the LJP(RV) securing 19 out of 29 contested seats — a near 66% strike rate that has amplified his influence within the NDA.
Paswan arrived in Patna on 15 November 2025, immediately after the results, and held a high-profile meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at the latter’s residence. The interaction was described by Paswan as “cordial and constructive,” focusing on congratulating Nitish and discussing alliance unity.
In 2020, Chirag Paswan, then leading the Lok Janshakti Party, dramatically undermined Nitish Kumar by exiting the NDA at the state level and contesting over one hundred and thirty seats independently under the “Bihar First, Bihari First” banner, fielding candidates directly against Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) while pledging loyalty to PM Modi.
This split inflicted severe damage, reducing Nitish’s JD(U) from 71 seats in 2015 to a humiliating 43, nearly costing him the chief ministership amid public perceptions of betrayal and ego clash. Ironically, five years later, the same Chirag is now poised to potentially become his deputy chief minister, a twist sealed by political pragmatism, transforming yesterday’s saboteur into today’s indispensable partner.
After the first swearing-in ceremony, the cabinet expansion is expected within one to two weeks, focusing on inclusive representation of caste, region and gender. The NDA aims to pass key manifesto promises, like one crore jobs and infrastructure boosts, within the first 100 days.
NDA insiders have revealed a provisional power-sharing formula of one ministerial berth for every six MLAs, capping the council at 33 to 34 members with the state's constitutional limit of 36, excluding the CM. This proportional allocation rewards electoral performance while maintaining equilibrium between big and small partners. First-round talks between the BJP and JD(U) are complete, with final tweaks expected by 18 November.
The process is described as “cordial” by allies, with separate meetings of victorious MLAs already held in Patna to consolidate support. Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s involvement in initial blueprint discussions ensures centralised coordination.
The BJP, as the largest party in the NDA, is projected to secure 15 to 16 ministerial berths, with key demands to retain portfolios like Finance and Health. This reflects its focus on implementing the “Modi guarantee” through infrastructure and its expectation for a majority of senior roles to leverage organisational strength. The JD(U) is expected to get 14 to 15 berths, retaining the Chief Minister post for Nitish Kumar and seeking key areas such as Home, Rural Development and Education.
The LJP(RV) is slated for three berths, demanding a Deputy Chief Minister position for Chirag Paswan along with portfolios in Youth Affairs and Food Processing. The HAM(S) of Jitan Ram Manjhi is projected to receive one berth, likely in Social Welfare or SC/ST Affairs. The RLM of Upendra Kushwaha is also expected to get one berth.
The Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, held in two phases on 6 and 11 November 2025, concluded with vote counting on 14 November 2025. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a resounding landslide victory, clinching 202 out of 243 seats — crossing the 200-seat mark for the second time in Bihar’s electoral history after 206 seats in 2010.