Nitish returns to rule Bihar for the 4th time
PATNA: Just nine months after he stepped down, JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar was today sworn-in as the Bihar Chief Minister, ending days of political drama following a bitter power struggle with Jitan Ram Manjhi.
Sixty three-year-old Kumar was administered the oath of office by governor Keshari Nath Tripathi at a glittering function at the Raj Bhawan, which was attended, among others by Manjhi, who had refused to quit as chief minister to make way for Kumar in defiance of the party leadership.
Besides Kumar, 22 ministers, including three women, were also administered the oath of office. His new team includes two ministers who were sacked by Manjhi and 20 others who resigned on February 7 to express their solidarity with Nitish, on the day he was declared leader of the JD(U) legislature party in Manjhi’s place.
Nitish admitted as much in a TV interview relayed after the swearing in ceremony at Raj Bhawan.
“I have included all those who exhibited complete commitment and loyalty towards the party”, he said.
A notable inclusion in the ministry was former road construction minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh aka Lalan Singh, whom Manjhi had accused of conduct unbecoming of a minister and sacked him on February 6. Also included was PK Shahi, forest and environment minister in the Manjhi cabinet, who had been sacked along with Lalan on the ground of non-performance. From the time Nitish was declared JD(U) party leader on February 7 till a defiant Manjhi resigned as CM on February 20 to avoid a trust vote he looked like losing, these leaders appeared to be among the most pro-active in helping him hold his flock of MLAs.
Soon after his swearing-in, Nitish in a press conference, said his he is committed to his vision of growth and development, while outlining the need to keep working for realisation of special state status for Bihar, but, this time, with the help of PM, Narendra Modi and the Centre. “There will be no bias, no prejudice, nor any witch hunt”, he said.