Just a day before a new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government assumes office in Bihar, intense lobbying is on for key posts—especially the Home Minister and the Speaker of the House.
Almost since Monday, the day Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar met Governor Arif Mohammad Khan after chairing the last Cabinet meeting of his outgoing government, there have been a series of meetings, including in Delhi with top party leaders Sanjay Jha and Lalan Singh, holding intense parleys with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda over the ministry formation.
On Tuesday, Nadda was present at the closed-door meeting in which preparations for the formation of the new government, including the allocation of ministerial portfolios, especially candidates for two key posts—Home Minister and the Speaker, were discussed.
In coalition governments, where multiple parties share power, the Speaker’s post is crucial, especially when one of the partners is someone like Nitish—a man known for his multiple political U-turns.
BJP sources say since the chief minister is from the JD(U), it is logical that the saffron party get the Speaker’s post. In the outgoing government, Nitish holds the Home portfolio. However, so far as the Home Ministry is concerned there is no clarity.
The final outline of the new cabinet will be cleared after Shah meets Nitish in Patna. A meeting is scheduled ahead of the oath-taking on Thursday which will be attended by top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, and chief ministers from BJP/NDA-ruled states.