NITISH KUMAR STAKES CLAIM, TO TAKE OATH ON NOV 20
NEW INNING Swearing-in on November 20, CM to decide on cabinet composition
minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday staked claim to form the new government before governor Ram Nath Kovind by submitting the list of 178 MLAs of the Grand Alliance (GA) comprising RJD, JD(U) and Congress.
Coming out of Raj Bhawan after getting a formal invitation from the governor, Nitish said the swearing-in ceremony of his new cabinet would be held on November 20 when he would take oath as 34th CM of the state at the Gandhi Maidan at 2 pm. RJD chief Lalu Prasad, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav and Congress leader CP Joshi had accompanied Nitish to Raj Bhawan .
Asked whether the ministry would have a post of deputy CM, Nitish remained non-committal, saying it would become clear on the oath taking day.
The JD(U) leader who was elected as leader of the joint legislature party of the GA in the afternoon, did not specify the number of ministers to be included in the cabinet.
“All the three parties would get proper representation. There is already a maximum limit for forming a ministry,” he said, indicating that the number of ministers in the state government cannot go beyond 36 under constitutional norms.
The chief minister emphasised that the GA government having a got a big mandate would strive to work for development of Bihar and also fulfill the aspirations of the people by continuing on the principle of “governance with justice”.
The alliance leadership was also under pressure to appoint a Muslim or a Dalit as deputy CM, sources said.
RJD sources said out of the 16 ministers, there will be eight Yadavs, four Muslims and four from other castes.
The swearing-in is likely to be a big political event with top leaders including Sonia Gandhi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in attendance.