Nitish Kumar as CM and two Deputy CMs from BJP: JD(U)-BJP govt starts taking shape

With the BJP dropping clear hints of being open to tying up with the Janata Dal (United) again, Nitish Kumar looks set to return as Chief Minister at the head of the NDA government in Bihar. Nitish may have two Deputy CMs from the BJP, along similar lines as the post-2020 Assembly polls formula.

Nitish is most likely to tender his resignation and then stake a fresh claim to form the government with the NDA on Sunday. The BJP and JD(U) are likely to hold party meetings and then convene a meeting of the alliance to choose Nitish as its leader.

Sources said that the BJP would choose an Extremely Backward Class (EBC) leader for one of the Deputy CM posts, and that is likely to be Renu Devi. The Nonia leader was one of the Deputy CMs after the 2020 polls – becoming Bihar’s first woman to hold the post – till Nitish switched sides in August 2022 to the RJD-Congress alliance.

BJP insiders said that as of now there is no unanimity over the choice of the second Deputy CM. Among the leaders being considered are Sushil Kumar Modi, who has served a long stint as Nitish’s Deputy CM in the past and is currently a Rajya Sabha MP; current Leader of the Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha; and Union Minister of State, Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai.

“The BJP is mulling over a combination of OBC-EBC or EBC-upper caste. While Renu Devi looks the obvious choice for an EBC face, the party has not yet finalised its second deputy CM,” a BJP leader said.

Sushil Modi and Sinha told The Indian Express that they would go with whatever decision the BJP’s central leadership takes in the interest of the party. “In politics, no gate shuts permanently,” Sushil Modi, who Thursday said he had no idea regarding Nitish’s plans, said. Sinha said: “We have collective