Bihar government: Nitish Kumar returns as CM; Tarkishore Prasad, Renu Devi as Deputy CMs

By Anuj Cariappa

Updated: Monday, November 16, 2020, 19:41 [IST]

Patna, Nov 16: Nitish Kumar took oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the fourth straight term this afternoon. The BJP, which has clinched 31 more seats than the 43 pocketed by Kumar''s JD(U), is likely to have two deputy chief ministers on the lines of Uttar Pradesh. The names of four- time MLAs Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi, who were chosen the leader and the deputy leader of the BJP legislature party on Sunday, are doing the rounds for the post.

Bihar swearing-in-ceremony LIVE: Nitish Kumar takes oath as CM for fourth straight term

Stay tuned for live updates:

Nov 16, 2020, 7:41 PM IST

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami greeted Nitish Kumar on assuming office for a record fourth consecutive term. Palaniswami wished him all success. "I congratulate you on your assumption of charge as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record fourth time (term) and wish you a successful tenure," Palaniswami said in his congratulatory message sent to Nitish Kumar, as reported by PTI.

Nov 16, 2020, 7:41 PM IST

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also congratulated Kumar. "Congratulations @NitishKumar ji on being sworn in as the Chief Minister of #Bihar for fourth consecutive term. Wish you and the new government the very best," Patnaik tweet on Monday.

Nov 16, 2020, 7:38 PM IST

The newly formed Bihar Cabinet to hold a meeting tomorrow. A special session of the state legislative Assembly to be held on 23rd November.

Nov 16, 2020, 6:28 PM IST

Congrats to Nitish Kumar & all newly sworn-in ministers. I'm sure that under PM Modi's guidance, NDA will give, pro-farmer, women, youth & development-oriented govt in State. I assure ppl of Bihar that NDA is committed to fulfil their aspirations: BJP President JP Nadda

Nov 16, 2020, 6:27 PM IST

It is the decision of the BJP to not field Sushil Modi as the Deputy Chief Minister. They should be asked about this: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

Nov 16, 2020, 6:27 PM IST

Based on the public's decision, NDA has once again formed the government in the state. We will work together and serve the people: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

Nov 16, 2020, 6:27 PM IST

We are very happy. NDA got an amazing victory in Bihar. This government will run for the next 5 years and will take Bihar forward: Devendra Fadnavis BJP in-charge for Bihar Elections

Nov 16, 2020, 6:26 PM IST

Congratulations to Nitish Kumar on taking oath as Bihar’s CM. I also congratulate all those who took oath as Ministers in Bihar Government. NDA family will work together for progress of Bihar. I assure all possible support from Centre for the welfare of Bihar: PM Modi

Nov 16, 2020, 6:26 PM IST

"Yes," says Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on being asked if he will be missing Sushil Modi - BJP leader and former deputy CM of the state during Kumar's previous tenure. BJP's Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi were sworn-in as Deputy CMs today.

Nov 16, 2020, 5:01 PM IST

Four JDU leaders — Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Vijendra Prasad Yadav, Ashok Choudhary, and Mewa Lal Choudhary — take oath as cabinet ministers

Nov 16, 2020, 4:56 PM IST

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi take oath as the Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar.

Patna: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi take oath as the Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar. pic.twitter.com/60kHuDDzOC
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2020

Nov 16, 2020, 4:47 PM IST

Nitish Kumar has taken oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the seventh time; his alliance's win in 2020 making this his fourth consecutive term.

Nov 16, 2020, 4:41 PM IST

JDU Chief Nitish Kumar takes oath as CM for fourth straight term.

#WATCH: Nitish Kumar takes oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the seventh time - his fourth consecutive term. pic.twitter.com/5jcZXabSYw
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2020

Nov 16, 2020, 4:38 PM IST

Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan arrives at Raj Bhavan for the swearing-in ceremony of CM designate Nitish Kumar.

Nov 16, 2020, 4:30 PM IST

Chief Minister designate Nitish Kumar arrives at Raj Bhavan in Patna.

Nov 16, 2020, 4:27 PM IST

Nitish Kumar is shortly going to be sworn-in as the 23rd CM of Bihar.

Nov 16, 2020, 4:13 PM IST

Bihar Chief Minister designate Nitish Kumar's oath-taking ceremony to begin shortly.

Nov 16, 2020, 4:07 PM IST

Santosh Manjhi of the Hindustani Awam Morcha or the HAM, and Mukesh Mallah of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) will also be sworn in.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:52 PM IST

Reportedly, Vijendra Yadav, Vijay Choudhary, Ashok Choudhary, Mewalal Choudhary, and Sheela Mandal from Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United and BJP leaders Mangal Pandey and Rampreet Paswan are among the 14 ministers being inducted in Nitish Kumar's new cabinet today.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:40 PM IST

The NDA has worked out a formula for the allocation of ministerial berths such as two posts for every seven assembly seats won by each ally.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:36 PM IST

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis arrives at the party office in Patna.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:35 PM IST

Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah arrives at party office in Patna. He is in the city to attend the swearing-in ceremony of CM designate Nitish Kumar.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:34 PM IST

On the other hand, the BJP, Tarkishore Prasad will take over as the deputy chief minister. He had said that in all likelihood he would be taking oath on Monday. I will be working as the deputy CM in the new government, he told reporters.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:25 PM IST

Not just RJD but Congress and CPIML -- the two other Mahagathbandhan alliance partners -- have also said that they will boycott Nitish Kumar's oath-taking ceremony.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:25 PM IST

The names of former minister Nand Kishore Yadav and ex-deputy speaker, Amarendra Pratap Singh are the names doing the rounds for the post of Speaker. The post of Speaker will be with the BJP.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:24 PM IST

The names of former minister Nand Kishore Yadav and ex-deputy speaker, Amarendra Pratap Singh are the names doing the rounds for the post of Speaker. The post of Speaker will be with the BJP.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:24 PM IST

The names of former minister Nand Kishore Yadav and ex-deputy speaker, Amarendra Pratap Singh are the names doing the rounds for the post of Speaker. The post of Speaker will be with the BJP.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:13 PM IST

Shreyashi Singh, a national level shooting champion, who won on a BJP ticket from the Jamui seat is one of the names doing the rounds for a ministerial berth. From the JD(U) quota, Sunil Kumar, a former director general of police is likely to make the cut too.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:12 PM IST

"Earlier he used to become Chief Minister by betrayal, this time he cannot be called CM...Nitish Kumar is born out of the rape and robbery of people's mandate by BJP," says RJD Bihar President Jagdanand Singh on boycotting the CM swearing-in ceremony.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:12 PM IST

There is speculation that 14 newly elected lawmakers from the JD(U) and BJP could take oath. One MLA each from the HAM (S) and VIP could also take oath.

Nov 16, 2020, 9:01 am IST

There are strong indications that Sushil Modi, who has been deputy chief minister since 2005 and is known to share excellent rapport with Kumar, may be retained.

Nov 16, 2020, 9:01 am IST

However, Prem Kumar said, "I have not been staking any claim. We are all committed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of making Bihar Atmanirbhar. NDA leaders will amicably decide who should be the leader and the deputy leader.

Nov 16, 2020, 9:02 am IST

Names of eight-term MLA from Gaya town Prem Kumar and that of Kameshwar Choupal, a Dalit MLC who had laid the foundation stone for the temple at Ayodhya in the 1990s, are also doing the rounds for the post in the political circles.

Nov 16, 2020, 9:02 am IST

There is some suspense whether Sushil Kumar Modi will continue as deputy chief minister or if the saffron party would choose a new face.

Nov 16, 2020, 9:02 am IST

Nitish Kuma to take oath at 11.30 am today.

Nov 16, 2020, 9:08 am IST

BJP’s Tarkishore Prasad, the MLA from Bihar’s Katihar, might replace Sushil Modi as his deputy.

Nov 16, 2020, 9:24 am IST

Rajnath Singh, a former BJP national president, who was accompanied by Sushil Kumar Modi for most part of his day-long visit, however ducked queries about who would be the new Deputy CM.

Nov 16, 2020, 9:24 am IST

"You will come to know about it at an appropriate time", said Singh even as Modi himself dropped ample hints about the happenings within the party.

Nov 16, 2020, 9:45 am IST

Hectic parleys are on in the NDA to decide how the new cabinet will look like as BJP has emerged as the ‘big brother’, changing the equations.

Nov 16, 2020, 9:46 am IST

Apart from Nitish Kumar, 8-10 senior ministers may take oath of office along with him. The rest will be finalised later.

Nov 16, 2020, 9:47 am IST

BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda to attend oath-taking ceremony of JD(U) Chief and Bihar CM designate Nitish Kumar in Patna, today.

Nov 16, 2020, 9:48 am IST

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah will also attend the oath-taking ceremony of Bihar Chief Minister-designate Nitish Kumar in Patna today.

Nov 16, 2020, 10:10 am IST

It will be interesting to see who all from the four NDA constituents -- the BJP, JD(U), Hindustani Awam Morcha and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) form the state cabinet.

Nov 16, 2020, 10:12 am IST

The outgoing Bihar government had a total of 30 ministers, including Nitish Kumar and Sushil Modi. Among them 18 were from the JD(U) and the rest 12 from the BJP.

Nov 16, 2020, 10:22 am IST

With the BJP emerging as the largest party in the NDA with 74 MLAs and the JD(U)'s tally going down to 43 from 71, it would be interesting to see if the saffron party, which has sacrificed the post of the chief minister in honour of its pre-poll promise, will insist on having a larger share in the cabinet.

Nov 16, 2020, 10:27 am IST

A total of 24 ministers of the previous cabinet had contested the polls and 10 of them, both from both the JD(U) and the BJP, lost.

Nov 16, 2020, 10:33 am IST

Since, two pre-poll constituents HAM and VIP have won four seats each, pushing the NDA's tally past the magic figure of 122, there will be representation from them in the cabinet this time.

Nov 16, 2020, 10:39 am IST

Jitan Ram Manjhi, who heads the HAM has made it clear that since he has already served as chief minister he won't take up any ministerial assignment.

Nov 16, 2020, 10:47 am IST

There are indications that Renu ji and I will take oath as Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar: Bharatiya Janata Party leader Tarkishore Prasad

Nov 16, 2020, 11:06 am IST

It is a big responsibility. If people have elected us and trusted the NDA, we will work to meet their expectations: BJP leader Renu Devi on being asked if she will take oath as Deputy CM of Bihar later today

Nov 16, 2020, 11:26 am IST

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav will not attend the oath-taking ceremony of Bihar CM designate Nitish Kumar to be held in Patna today.

Nov 16, 2020, 12:22 pm IST

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.

Nov 16, 2020, 1:06 pm IST

RJD says they will boycott the oath-taking ceremony of Chief Minister-designate Nitish Kumar. "The public gave the mandate to change which is against the NDA," says the party.

Nov 16, 2020, 2:15 pm IST

"The RJD boycotts oath-taking ceremony of this puppet government. The mandate is for a change, and against the (ruling) NDA. The peoples verdict has been changed by the rulers order," the RJD alleged in a tweet.

Nov 16, 2020, 2:49 pm IST

The BJP is likely to have the post of Speaker as Nitish Kumar gets set to take over Chief Minister for the fourth time in Bihar.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:06 pm IST

The suspense with regard to the Nitish Kumar cabinet, but it could be expected that the Chief Minister would have a blend of young and old faces.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:11 pm IST

There is speculation that 14 newly elected lawmakers from the JD(U) and BJP could take oath. One MLA each from the HAM (S) and VIP could also take oath.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:12 pm IST

There is speculation that 14 newly elected lawmakers from the JD(U) and BJP could take oath. One MLA each from the HAM (S) and VIP could also take oath.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:12 pm IST

Nov 16, 2020, 3:13 pm IST