Bihar govt formation: NDA legislative party meeting on Nov 19 to select Chief Minister

Following the landslide victory of the BJP–JDU-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, attention has now shifted to the formation of the new government.

According to the latest update, a meeting of the NDA Legislative Party will be held in Patna on November 19. During the meeting, NDA legislators will elect their Legislative Party leader, who will also become the Chief Minister of the state.

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“On November 19, there will be a meeting of the Legislative Party, and the leader will be selected,” Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal told reporters in Patna.

Earlier, it was reported that the meeting would take place on Monday.

Incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar remains the frontrunner, although some voices are calling for a change.

However, with the JDU winning 85 seats, it will not be easy for the BJP to implement its strategy—seen in several other BJP-ruled states—of appointing a new face to the top post.

Although the BJP is the single largest party and close to the majority mark even without Nitish, the party’s lack of a majority at the Centre makes it difficult to sidestep him and install one of its own leaders as Chief Minister.

Moreover, another key ally, Union Minister Chirag Paswan’s LJP (RV), has extended its support to Nitish Kumar.

According to sources, Nitish Kumar is expected to take oath as Chief Minister of Bihar for the tenth time before November 22.

The final date will depend on the schedule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the NDA government in Bihar.

Sources added that the formula for allocating ministerial positions among NDA constituents has also been finalised. A 6:1 ratio—one minister for every six MLAs—will be applied.

Under this formula, the BJP may secure 15 or 16 ministerial berths, the JDU 14, the LJP (Ram Vilas) 3, Upendra Kushwaha’s RLM 1, and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM 1.

Additionally, there could be three Deputy Chief Ministers, including one from Chirag Paswan’s LJP (RV). In 2020 and 2024, the NDA government had two Deputy CMs in Bihar.