Bihar Government Formation: Key Portfolios Under Negotiation

As Bihar gears up for Nitish Kumar’s swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, the intricate process of cabinet formation is dominating political discourse. The Chief Minister’s office is overseeing ceremony arrangements at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, while intense deliberations continue between the Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party regarding the division of ministerial portfolios and the crucial Speaker’s post. The ceremony is expected to be a grand affair, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah slated to attend, along with a host of other national and state leaders from the NDA. Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Patna on Wednesday evening is a significant step in finalizing the cabinet list. The NDA’s overwhelming victory in the recent Bihar polls has empowered the coalition to form the government. The distribution of ministries, however, is proving to be a complex exercise. The Home Ministry, previously under JD(U) control, is reportedly a key demand from the BJP. Similarly, the Education portfolio is another ministry reportedly being contested. The selection of the Assembly Speaker is also a significant point of negotiation between the coalition partners. Allocation of ministerial berths to smaller alliance members is also being worked out, with a structured approach guiding the distribution. Insiders suggest that the overarching political understanding is in place, with current negotiations centering on the precise allocation of powers and responsibilities as Nitish Kumar begins his fifth term.