Nitish Kumar sworn in as Bihar CM, says his decision in state’s interest

Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the sixth time on Thursday, marking a dramatic transition of the state from a Grand Alliance government to an NDA regime.

After taking oath, Nitish Kumar said that his decision was in Bihar’s interest and for its development.

Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi invited Nitish to form the government late on Wednesday night, hours after the JD (U) leader resigned citing differences with former ally, Lalu Prasad, over corruption charges against the RJD supremo’s son Tejashwi Yadav.

According to a Raj Bhawan statement, Nitish has to prove his majority within two days.

Kumar presented a letter of support by 131 members, including the BJP, two independents and legislators of BJP allies Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM)-Secular and Rashtriya Lok Samata party (RLSP), the comminique issued from Raj Bhawan at 2.51 am said.

Kumar broke off a long alliance with the BJP in 2014, shortly after Narendra Modi was named as the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate for the general elections. He then cobbled together the so-called grand alliance with the RJD and Congress to win the assembly polls in 2015.

BJP president Amit Shah congratulated Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief minister Sushil Modi for “unitedly standing against corruption”.