Swearing-in ceremony: Who's on Nitish's invitation list

Patna, Feb 22: Senior JD(U) leader and former Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is set to take oath as the chief minister of the state for the fourth time at 5 pm on Sunday.

He will succeed Jitan Ram Manjhi whom he had appointed for the post after the Lok Sabha poll debacle in May last year.

The JD(U) leader held a half-an-hour long meeting with Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi at the Raj Bhavan on Saturday, confirmed the news to the reporters.

A host of political leaders including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav are scheduled to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

Also, Assam CM Tarun Gogoi, Haryana leaders Abhay Chautala, Dushyant Chautala and former Jharkhand chief minister Babu Lal Marandi will be among the attendees. Kumar has also invited Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad and JD(S) chief HD Deve Gowda among others over telephone for the oath function.

"Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Assam Chef Minister Tarun Gogoi, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi and Deve Gowda, Shivpal Singh Yadav, Abhay Choutala are among those who will attend the ceremony today," said JD (U) spokesperson KC Tyagi.

He will be administered the oath of office and secrecy at the Raj Bhawan in Patna by Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.

In the 243-member assembly, the JD(U) has 115 legislators - most of whom are with Nitish Kumar. The party has the support of 24 Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) legislators, five Congress legislators, two independents and a Communist Party of India legislator. The BJP has 88 legislators and is supported by three Independents.
OneIndia News