2 deputies, a speaker: Understanding BJP’s equations in Bihar
New Delhi, Nov 16: The BJP is likely to have two deputy chief ministers and also the post of Speaker as Nitish Kumar gets set to take over Chief Minister for the fourth time in Bihar.
There is a likelihood of Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi being sworn in as deputy CMs.
Sources
tell
OneIndia
that
in
a
late
night
meeting
of
the
BJP
leaders
and
Nitish
Kumar,
a
decision
was
taken
to
name
two
deputies
and
a
Speaker
who
would
be
from
the
BJP.
Prasad
has
already
been
named
as
the
leader
of
the
BJP's
legislature
party,
while
Renu
Devi
said
that
she
would
follow
party
orders.
Prasad while interacting with the media said that he would fulfil whatever responsibility given to him by the party. The entire team would work under Nitish Kumar to ensure that Bihar is on the path to development.
The combination of Prasad and Devi is an interesting one since the BJP is trying to make larger inroads into the Vaishya and EBC communities. While Prasad is from the Vaishya community, Renu Devi belong to the Nonia caste of the EBCs in Bihar. By making Prasad and Renu Devi as deputy CMs, the BJP would now look to asset itself in these two communities.
While many within the party said that the BJP should have gone for the post of chief minister, sources say that prior to the elections the BJP had announced that Nitish Kumar would be CM. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi too had written a letter a day before the election urging the voters to elect Kumar so that the development works in Bihar could continue.