Nitish to be elected NDA leader today

Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar will be elected the leader of the ruling National Democratic Alliance on Wednesday, paving the way for his anointment as the Chief Minister of Bihar.

Ahead of the oath-taking ceremony on November 20 at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan, the NDA MLAs will meet to elect Nitish Kumar their leader.

Meanwhile, the BJP legislature party meeting has been postponed to Wednesday with the party appointing Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya as the central observer.

The meeting will see BJP’s 89 MLAs elect the party leader in the Assembly.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and former minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti have been appointed co-observers for the BJP legislature party meeting in Patna on Wednesday morning.

Sources said two deputy chief ministerial slots were likely, with the BJP’s six-term MLA from Bettiah, Renu Devi, a frontrunner to fill one of these.

Renu Devi has served as Bihar’s Deputy CM earlier and is a seasoned leader of the BJP in the state.

Women minister representation in the Bihar Cabinet is expected to be substantial this time, it is learnt.

The BJP is likely to wrest the Assembly Speaker’s post although the JD(U) has also staked claim to it.

The November 20 swearing-in will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief JP Nadda among other senior NDA leaders and CMs of BJP and NDA-ruled states.

Accompanied by outgoing Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and other ministers, Nitish Kumar today took stock of the preparations for the ceremony.