Patna/New Delhi: Preparations for the formation of the new Bihar government are underway, with the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for November 20 at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan. Top leaders of the BJP and the NDA will meet in Delhi today for a crucial legislative party meeting where the outline of the new government, cabinet structure, and the names of the two Deputy Chief Ministers may be finalised.
Monday saw a flurry of developments. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and submitted a formal letter recommending the dissolution of the current Assembly on November 19. The final cabinet meeting also approved this proposal. The Governor congratulated Nitish Kumar on the NDA’s sweeping victory in the 2025 Assembly elections.
NDA Likely to Follow 15–16 Formula
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said the new cabinet is expected to comprise 35–36 ministers. According to him, 16 ministers may come from the BJP, 15 from the JD(U), three from the LJP(R), and one each from HAM(S) and RLSP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the oath-taking ceremony.
While the BJP has emerged as the largest party in the Assembly, the JD(U) has made significant gains and is likely to retain substantial influence in the new cabinet. Sources indicate that around 18 ministers may be sworn in alongside Nitish Kumar.
Race for Deputy CM Heats Up
Within the BJP, the names of Samrat Chaudhary, Ramkripal Yadav, and Mangal Pandey are in discussion for the post of Deputy Chief Minister. Chirag Paswan’s LJP(R), which has become a key NDA partner with 19 seats, is also seeking a larger role and may lay claim to one Deputy CM position.
The tradition of having two Deputy Chief Ministers began after the 2020 Assembly elections. This time, too, the arrangement is likely to continue, though final decisions will be taken after consultations between the BJP and Nitish Kumar.
JD(U) to Retain Key Portfolios; BJP May Bring New Faces
The JD(U) is expected to maintain continuity by reappointing around 10 of its previous ministers. In the outgoing cabinet, 13 ministers were from the JD(U) quota.
In contrast, major reshuffles are expected on the BJP’s side. The party had 19 ministers earlier, and sources say Deputy CM Vijay Sinha may be moved out of the position. Samrat Chaudhary’s continuation is also uncertain, even though he remains a strong contender. The names of Mangal Pandey and Rajneesh Kumar are being considered as well.
New Entrants Being Considered
Names such as HAM leader Santosh Manjhi, Snehlata Kushwaha (wife of Upendra Kushwaha), and LJP(R) state president Raju Tiwari are among the likely new ministers. BJP leader Sanjay Paswan is also being discussed.
Vijay Sinha May Become Speaker
The BJP is likely to retain the Speaker’s post. Insiders say Vijay Sinha may be shifted from the Deputy CM race to the Speaker’s chair. The BJP has held this position since Nitish Kumar’s political realignment in 2020. The Legislative Council Chairperson’s post is already with the BJP, currently held by Awadhesh Narayan Singh.
BJP May Adopt MP–Rajasthan Model
In Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the BJP recently replaced several senior leaders with new faces, balancing caste equations and strengthening organisational control. Similar changes could appear in Bihar as the party recalibrates its cabinet strategy.
NDA’s Big Win Reshapes Equations
The NDA secured 202 out of 243 seats in the results declared on November 14, marking a strong comeback comparable to its performance in the 2005 and 2010 elections. This time, the BJP won 89 seats, while the JD(U) jumped from 43 to 85 seats. The LJP(R) finished with 19 seats, HAM with 5, and Upendra Kushwaha’s faction with 4 seats.
Historically, cabinet dominance has shifted based on seat tallies. In 2010, when the NDA won 206 seats, the JD(U) had 19 ministers and the BJP 11. But by 2020, as BJP numbers rose, the party led the cabinet composition. The 2025 results have once again rebalanced power between the two major NDA allies.
With intense negotiations underway and Gandhi Maidan being readied for the grand ceremony, all eyes are now on the NDA’s meeting in Delhi, where the final shape of the new Bihar government is expected to emerge.
