The coveted post of Speaker, which became the bone of contention between the BJP and the JD (U) is likely to go to the RJD…reports Asian Lite News
Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar took oath on Wednesday afternoon as the second Grand Alliance is likely to become a reality again.
This was the eighth time since 2005 when Kumar took the oath of chief minister and second time as the head of the Grand Alliance.
Kumar has been the chief minister of Bihar for over 15 years.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Lalu Prasad’s youngest son Tejashwi Yadav took oath as the deputy chief minister for the second time.
Earlier, he was the deputy CM of the state from 2015 till mid-2017.
The strength of the ministry would be around 35. After severing ties with the BJP, Kumar, on Tuesday handed over the letter of support of 164 MLAs comprising of seven parties to the governor who invited him to form the government.
Leaders familiar with the development said RJD with 79 MLAs are likely to have 16 ministers, JD (U) with 45 MLAs will have 14 ministers as per the formula worked out by the new alliance partners.
Congress with 19 MLAs is likely to get three berths while Left and HAM-S will get a berth each.
The coveted post of Speaker, which became the bone of contention between the BJP and the JD (U) is likely to go to the RJD.
“It is natural that the RJD will have the lion’s share in the cabinet, but it will also stake claim to key portfolios, including finance and home department. Nitish Kumar has always kept home with himself. The Speaker’s chair will also be with the RJD. Even BJP got Speaker’s chair,” said a senior RJD leader.
According to reports, JD(U) could retain all the ministers who were part of the NDA government with the addition of Upendra Kushwaha’s name. The RJD list also includes the name of Lalu’s eldest son Tej Pratap Yadav. Santosh Kumar Suman, son of HAM-S chief Jitan Ram Manjhi will be party’s lone representative while the name of BPCC president Madan Mohan Jha is doing the rounds in Congress circle.
Bihar developments fill SP with ‘optimism’
The change of government in Bihar has filled the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh with ‘optimism’.
SP President Akhilesh Yadav sees the BJP-JD(U) break-up as a “good start” for Indian politics.
This is the beginning of the end. It signals ‘BJP satta chhodo’ on the lines of ‘Angrezo Bharat chhodo’ slogan that was coined during the Independence movement, he stated.
Talking to reporters in Kannauj, Akhilesh said: “People in our communities are no longer getting postings in institutions and all BJP supporters are being appointed to key posts at universities and educational institutions.”
He further warned: “If they get more powerful, then your right to vote might also be taken away. People should not take such possibilities lightly as this was exactly what was happening in many countries in India’s neighbourhood.”
Akhilesh also targetted the ruling BJP for selling away public enterprises to corporates. He said the way in which the safron party was selling over government establishments like railways, airports and airlines, a time will come when people will be treated like slaves.
“If they (BJP) remain in control, all of us will turn into slaves,” Akhilesh said.
He added: “In days to come the government will not buy your wheat, private people will buy your wheat.”
The SP president further said that the BJP government is not the government of the poor and farmers.
“This is a government of industrialists. Since the BJP came to power, inflation has increased. From diesel-petrol to gas cylinders, milk, curd–everything has become expensive. Farmers are suffering losses in agriculture. Farmers are not even getting the cost price of their crops. Not only this, the BJP government has cheated the youth by introducing the Agniveer scheme in the Army,” he said.
He said: “In the coming time, this government will also bring a similar scheme in the recruitment of police and PAC. This government has also done government jobs on contract. The youth are not getting jobs. A large number of youths are unemployed. The BJP government is only working for the welfare of the Industrialists.”
ALSO READ-Nitish Kumar govt likely to relax liquor prohibition law