Daijiworld Media Network - Patna

Patna, Apr 14: Bihar is set for a major political shift as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to step down on Tuesday, paving the way for the formation of the first-ever BJP-led government in the state.

Amid growing speculation, Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Samrat Choudhary has emerged as a frontrunner for the top post, although a woman leader’s name is also reportedly under consideration.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new government under the Bharatiya Janata Party is scheduled to be held at Lok Bhavan on April 15, a day after Nitish Kumar submits his resignation to Governor Syed Ata Hasnain.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony. Preparations for the event are already underway.

The BJP has convened its legislature party meeting on Tuesday to elect its leader, with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan appointed as the central observer for the process.

Prior to his resignation, Nitish Kumar is expected to chair his final cabinet meeting. Subsequently, an NDA legislators’ meeting will be held at the Bihar Legislative Assembly to formalise leadership selection.

This marks a historic moment as it would be the first time the BJP will have its own chief minister in Bihar. The party is currently the single largest in the 243-member Assembly with 89 MLAs, followed by the Janata Dal (United) with 85 MLAs.

The NDA alliance in Bihar includes BJP, JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas), HAM, and Upendra Kushwaha’s RLM. In a significant development, Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar is also likely to be inducted as deputy chief minister in the new government.