Bihar Govt Formation: Nitish Kumar to take oath as CM for record 10th time on Thursday at Patna's Gandhi Maidan

Bihar Government Formation: Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar has been named as the leader of the NDA’s legislative wing, clearing the way for his swearing-in as Bihar's chief minister for a record 10th term.

The 74-year-old leader will take the oath of office on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, where preparations for a large public ceremony are in full swing.

The NDA secured a strong mandate in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, winning 202 of 243 seats. The BJP bagged 89 seats, while the JD(U) won 85, reinforcing Kumar’s leadership within the coalition.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and several senior NDA leaders are expected to attend Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony.

Also Read: Nitish Kumar at helm as NDA begins govt formation talks after historic Bihar win

NDA sticks to familiar leadership

Despite speculation of surprise changes, the NDA has chosen to retain the leadership team that delivered its massive victory. On Wednesday, the JD(U) elected Nitish Kumar as its legislative party leader, while the BJP selected Samrat Choudhury as its legislative party leader and Vijay Kumar Sinha as deputy leader.

This continuity ensures that both Choudhury and Sinha will remain Deputy Chief Ministers in the new government, just as in the previous administration under Nitish Kumar. BJP’s central observer Keshav Prasad Maurya said both leaders were selected unanimously. “The jodi of Samrat Choudhury and Vijay Sinha is fit and also hit,” Maurya told reporters after their election, IANS reported.

Also Read: 'Dasvi Baar' Nitish Kumar? From engineer to longest-serving Bihar CM as ‘sushasan babu’ eyes fifth term amid NDA surge

Cabinet formation talks continue

Discussions on cabinet formation are underway. The JD(U) and BJP are likely to get 15 ministerial berths each in the new NDA government. Chirag Paswan’s LJP may receive two berths, while Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) are expected to get one berth each.

The BJP is also likely to retain the post of Assembly Speaker, though final negotiations on key portfolios are ongoing.

Towards the evening, Nitish Kumar will meet Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan to submit his resignation from CM's post, formally initiating the process for the formation of the new government. With this, Nitish Kumar, a dominant figure in Bihar politics since the late 1990s, is set to take charge once again, marking another milestone in his long political career.