New govt formation with BJP CM likely next month

Patna: The formation of a new govt in Bihar is unlikely before the first week of April, as the March 16 election for five Rajya Sabha seats, which will fall vacant on April 9, appears imminent.

The development comes amid indications that the RJD, having fielded its candidate, is keen to contest for one seat.CM Nitish Kumar, who among the five NDA candidates, filed papers for the Rajya Sabha on Thursday and paved the way for the BJP to make its CM for the first time in Bihar, will take oath as a member of the Upper House of Parliament only after April 10.Industries minister and former BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal admitted that nothing new is going to happen before the Rajya Sabha election process concludes on March 16.

Sources said the JD(U) and BJP are likely to hold their legislature party meetings in the first week of April to elect their respective leaders before the NDA legislators’ meeting to formally elect the new CM.However, consultations about the new govt formation have started as both the BJP’s deputy CMs, Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, called on CM Nitish at his residence Friday. Nitish was also busy in consultations with senior JD(U) leaders about the future plans of the party and the role his son Nishant Kumar is likely to play in the organisation as well as the new govt.

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh also reached Patna Friday to feel the party leaders’ pulse regarding the CM candidate.A BJP leader, preferring anonymity, dismissed the speculations about the party’s probable names doing the rounds. He said the BJP’s CM face will be decided in consultation with Nitish as PM Narendra Modi or Union home minister Amit Shah would not like to impose anyone and annoy the JD(U) supremo.Union minister and former JD(U) chief, Rajiv Ranjan Singh aka Lalan Singh, who reached Patna to attend the meeting of party MPs and legislators called by the CM Friday evening, also said even the new head of the state govt will be named as per the wish and direction of Nitish.JD(U) sources said if Nishant enters active politics, he may be made the only deputy CM to avoid any parallel power centre by appointing the second deputy to the next CM. But that is possible only when Nitish resigns as CM and leaves Bihar for the Rajya Sabha. That gave credence to the logic of delaying the power shift till the first week of April, one JD(U) leader said.He also said there are not many changes likely to be made in the new govt formation except some changes in the portfolios of the NDA ministers since BJP will have its CM and JD(U) its deputy CM for the first time in the state.