BJP to Get Larger Share in Bihar Cabinet as NDA Secures Overwhelming Victory in Assembly Elections

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 202 seats in the Bihar assembly elections, demonstrating a significant victory.

Sources indicate that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will likely receive greater representation in the new Bihar government, even as Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar remains Chief Minister, according to details shared on Sunday.

Following a crucial meeting chaired by BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the NDA finalized cabinet formation arrangements. Approximately 15 to 16 ministers will be selected from the BJP, while around 14 ministers will come from JD(U).

In the recent two-phase elections for the 243-member assembly held on November 6 and 11, the BJP won 89 seats while the JD(U) secured 85 seats.

The Lok Jan Shakti (Ram Vikas), another NDA constituent that won 19 seats, is expected to receive three cabinet positions.

Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), which obtained five seats, and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha with four seats are likely to receive one ministerial position each. Sources revealed that a formula allocating one ministerial post per six MLAs was established.

The oath-taking ceremony is anticipated to take place on either November 19 or 20.

The NDA's sweeping victory in the Bihar elections was announced on Friday, with the alliance securing 202 seats. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with an impressive strike rate of nearly 95 percent.

The opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance, primarily consisting of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and three Left parties, struggled to win more than 35 seats. Former poll strategist Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) failed to secure any seats despite contesting in 238 constituencies. The All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) won five seats.

Following the opposition's significant defeat, the Congress questioned the Election Commission's role during the electoral process and attributed their poor performance to the "hurried" Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.

Several opposition allies have called for introspection and course correction, with some criticizing the concentration of power among a few leaders.

The BJP asserted that the overwhelming mandate for the NDA reflected public approval of the SIR process and suggested that voters had "punished" the opposition alliance for allegedly defaming the country and creating divisions based on caste and religion.

The ruling party further claimed that this electoral verdict would pave the way for NDA victories in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, both scheduled for elections next year.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won the Ramgarh seat in Bihar by a narrow margin of just 30 votes.