Nitish Kumar Takes Oath As Bihar CM for 9th Time

Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar Chief Minister on Sunday, January 28, for the 9th time after he, along with his party, joined the BJP-led NDA bloc. Jitan Ram Manjhi, Chirag Paswan, Samrat Chaudhary, and BJP National President JP Nadda were present as Nitish Kumar took the oath amid chants of Bharat Mata ki Jai and Jai Shree Ram.

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#WATCH | Nitish Kumar takes oath as Bihar CM for the 9th time after he along with his party joined the BJP-led NDA bloc. pic.twitter.com/ePGsqvusM3

— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024

Nitish Kumar resigned as Bihar Chief Minister on Sunday, ending his 18-month ruling alliance with Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress. With the support of the BJP, he took the oath as the new Chief Minister at 5 pm today, marking his return to the NDA. Alongside BJP's Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, who took oath as the Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar, eight ministers also took the oath on Sunday, January 28.

Bringing closure to the fast-unravelling political events earlier in the day, Nitish handed his resignation letter to Governor Rajendra Arlekar along with letters of support from the BJP legislators. Accepting his resignation letter, the Governor requested him to discharge his administrative duties as the caretaker chief minister till the new government takes shape.

Nitish Kumar cited the state of affairs being "not right" under the Mahagathbandhan alliance as his reason for quitting. He said that he has been receiving suggestions from everywhere, including his party workers, and he listened to all of them to come to this decision. "I have resigned as the CM today and have asked the Governor to put an end to this government. Party leaders were giving me advice. I heard what they said and have resigned. The situation was not good. So, we have broken ties," Nitish Kumar told reporters outside the Raj Bhavan.

In the Bihar Assembly of 243, the RJD has 79 MLAs, followed by the BJP's 78; the JD(U)'s 45' the Congress's 19, the CPI (M-L)'s 12, two each of the CPI(M) and CPI, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)'s four seats, and the AIMIM's one, plus one Independent legislator.