As the NDA prepares to form the next government in Bihar after securing a sweeping mandate, intense negotiations have begun between the BJP and JD(U) over control of the crucial Assembly Speaker’s post. Senior leaders from both parties are meeting in New Delhi to finalise the structure of the new administration, including the allocation of major cabinet portfolios. According to sources, both parties are making a strong case for the Speaker’s position, with the BJP reportedly determined to retain the chair previously held by its leader Nand Kishore Yadav. In the outgoing Assembly, JD(U)’s Narendra Narayan Yadav served as Deputy Speaker, adding to the competitive claim between the allies.
Discussions have extended late into the night in Patna as senior state BJP leaders worked on their strategy ahead of the high-level meeting in Delhi. Key JD(U) leaders, including Sanjay Kumar Jha and Lalan Singh, are also travelling to the capital to take part in the negotiations. Meanwhile, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is conducting parallel talks with smaller NDA allies—Chirag Paswan’s LJP (RV), Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM(S), and Upendra Kushwaha’s RLSP—to define their roles in the upcoming government. Sources indicate that a consensus formula of “one ministerial berth for every six MLAs” has been agreed upon among the alliance partners.
Separate legislative party meetings of the BJP and JD(U) have been scheduled for November 19, followed by a joint NDA meeting later in the day. These sessions will pave the way for the formation of the new government, with the official swearing-in planned for November 20 at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. The transition began after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and recommended the dissolution of the outgoing Assembly. Nitish Kumar is expected to submit his resignation along with letters of support from all NDA constituents before taking the oath once again as Chief Minister.
The NDA claimed a dominant victory in the Bihar Assembly elections, winning 202 seats in total. The BJP became the single largest party with 89 seats, followed closely by JD(U), which secured 85. Chirag Paswan’s party won 19 seats, the HAM(S) secured five, and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha claimed four. The Mahagathbandhan, in contrast, faced a severe setback, managing only 34 seats altogether. The RJD fell drastically to 25 seats from its earlier 75, while the Congress won just six of the 61 seats it contested. Smaller parties including CPI(ML) Liberation, CPM, AIMIM, BSP and the Indian Inclusive Party also made marginal gains. As the NDA works to finalise power-sharing details, the negotiations over the Speaker’s post remain the centerpiece of the alliance dynamics.
