BJP-JD(U) TALKS DELAY FULL CABINET OATH IN BIHAR

Nitish Kumar’s record 10th oath as Bihar CM is overshadowed by NDA wrangling over the Speaker’s post and key portfolios.

- SHIKHA SALARIA

Leader of the NDA legislature party Nitish Kumar meets Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan as the NDA prepares to form a new government in Bihar, in Patna on Wednesday. ANI

(ANI)

Not all ministers of the new Bihar cabinet will take oath on Thursday as the BJP and JD(U) continue to iron out contentious issues, including the post of Assembly Speaker and the allocation of key portfolios.

JD(U) patriarch Nitish Kumar is set to take oath as Chief Minister for a record tenth term. Highly placed sources said Kumar has conveyed to the BJP leadership that his party will retain the Speaker's post this time.

As reported by The Daily Guardian on Tuesday, with the JD(U) having doubled its tally of MLAs, itis eyeing a larger share in the cabinet and some crucial portfolios earlier held by the BJP, which had dominated the previous government's distribution.

“Only a few ministers will take oath on Thursday as talks on key portfolios are still on. The main issue under discussion is which party will retain the Speaker’s post, as both have staked claim,” a senior NDA leader told TDG.