Patna, November 17, 2025 – The new Bihar government is set to be sworn in on Thursday, November 20, in a grand ceremony at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna. The event is expected to be a major public spectacle, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top ministers of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) slated to attend.
Amidst heightened political activity and intense discussions among NDA constituents, preparations are in full swing for the formation of the new government. The Patna district administration has closed Gandhi Maidan to the general public from today until November 20 to facilitate preparations for the oath-taking ceremony.
Nitish Kumar, the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) chief, is widely expected to take oath as Chief Minister for a record tenth time. However, there has been no official announcement. Before the swearing-in, Kumar is expected to resign from his current post. He will also chair a final cabinet meeting to dissolve the existing cabinet, paving the way for the new government. Following his resignation, Kumar will attend a meeting of newly-elected JDU legislators, where he is expected to be formally elected as the leader of the JDU legislative party.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the largest party in the recent assembly elections, securing 89 seats. JDU secured 85 seats. Other NDA constituents include the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJP-RV), which won 19 MLA seats, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) with 5 seats, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) with 4 seats.
The allocation of ministerial posts among the alliance partners is under discussion, with a formula of roughly one ministerial post for every six MLAs being considered to ensure balanced representation. Sources suggest that the BJP and JDU are likely to receive an equal share of ministerial seats under the initial power-sharing plan. The LJP (RV) may be offered two ministerial positions, while the RLM and HAM(S) may receive one each. The maximum number of cabinet berths is constitutionally capped at 15% of the assembly's strength, allowing for a maximum of 36 ministers including the Chief Minister.
The NDA secured a decisive victory in the Bihar polls, winning a total of 202 seats in the 243-member house. The term of the current assembly is set to expire on November 22. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar handed over the list of the 243 newly elected members to Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, initiating the process for the new assembly.
Senior leaders from the BJP, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other central ministers are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony. Chief Ministers from other NDA-ruled states are also likely to be present.
Political analysts believe that caste and regional balance will be key factors in determining the composition of the new cabinet. Discussions are underway to ensure that all sections of society are adequately represented in the government.
