The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday appointed Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the central observer for the election of its legislature party leader in Bihar.
With the move, the party began the process of forming a new government in the state after former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s defection to the Rajya Sabha..
Bihar may get a new chief minister on April 15, ANI reported citing sources.
In an announcement, BJP National General Secretary Arun Singh said, “The Bharatiya Janata Party Parliamentary Council has appointed Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, as the central observer for the election of the leader of the BJP Legislative Party in Bihar.”
According to a PTI report citing a BJP source, the name of the next chief minister will be announced after a meeting of NDA legislators in the state. However, the date of the meeting of the legislative party of the National Democratic Alliance has not yet been decided.
Will Bihar get a new CM on April 15?
Earlier in the day, Sanjay Kumar Jha, National Working President of Janata Dal (United), said that the government formation process will begin after the 13th.
Jha said this while talking to reporters in Patna, shortly after meeting Kumar, the JD(U) chief, who is expected to step down as chief minister to pave the way for a new government likely to be led by the BJP.
“I think it will be launched after April 13. But you should talk to those in the state government for more details,” said Jha, JD (U) working president and Rajya Sabha MP.
In his remarks, Jha said that in Bihar, the electoral mandate for 2025-2030 was secured under the leadership of Nitish Kumar with the support of the NDA. He added that the Prime Minister campaigned actively and the incoming government will continue Nitish Kumar’s policies while working under his leadership.
Jha further noted that even if Kumar does not remain Chief Minister, his focus will remain on Bihar, with visits to Delhi limited to attending Parliament sessions.
Apart from Sanjay Kumar Jha, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and JD(U) leader as well as Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary were present at the Chief Minister’s residence.
Though Samrat Choudhary is seen as a strong contender for the post of chief minister in Bihar, both the BJP and the Janata Dal (United) have not revealed their stand, a PTI report said.
Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar was sworn in as a member of the Rajya Sabha on Friday, ending his two-decade-long tenure as the chief minister of the state.
Kumar resigned from the State Legislative Council on 30 March after being elected to the Rajya Sabha on 16 March.
(With input from agencies)
