Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar will chair his first cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, five days after being sworn in for a record tenth term, with major decisions expected on a special Assembly session, job creation plans and the implementation roadmap for the NDA’s 25 election commitments.
The meeting, scheduled for 11am at the main secretariat, comes after the NDA’s sweeping victory in the Bihar Assembly election. Officials said the agenda reflects the new government’s intention to take early administrative steps and signal momentum.
Special Assembly session tops agenda
The cabinet is expected to approve a special session of the Bihar Assembly, during which newly elected MLAs will be administered the oath. On Monday, governor Arif Mohammed Khan appointed senior JD(U) legislator Narendra Narayan Yadav as pro tem speaker and administered his oath. Yadav, an eighth-term MLA from Alamnagar and a former deputy speaker, will oversee the oath ceremony.
Once the pro tem speaker completes the formalities, the House will proceed to elect a full-time Speaker, followed by the official announcements of the leader of the House and leader of the opposition. Sources have indicated that the Speaker’s post has already been agreed upon between the JD(U) and BJP.
NDA’s 25 commitments set to define government agenda
The most politically significant decisions may relate to the NDA’s ambitious 25 commitments, unveiled during the election campaign. These include promises on employment, industrial expansion, women’s welfare and youth-oriented schemes.
Nitish Kumar has previously made rapid decisions immediately after taking oath in earlier terms, prompting close attention on what the first cabinet will clear.
27 ministers sworn in, nine berths still open
The new ministry currently includes 27 ministers, with the JD(U) holding 9 posts (including the CM), the BJP 14, the LJP(R) 2, and HAM and RLSP holding one each. The cabinet can have up to 36 ministers, leaving nine posts vacant. Expansion is expected once power-sharing details are finalised.
The delayed cabinet meeting—usually held the day after the oath ceremony—was attributed to prolonged discussions between the JD(U) and BJP over the division of portfolios.
NDA achieves its biggest-ever win in Bihar
The NDA won a massive 202 out of 243 seats, its biggest victory in Bihar history. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, followed by the JD(U) with 85.
The opposition Mahagathbandhan collapsed to 35 seats, with the RJD—once the largest party in 2020—reduced to 25 seats.
