Interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi mediated the establishment of a new government in Bihar, Mahagathbandhan, according to party MLAs. Nitish Kumar, the leader of the JD(U), took the oath of office as Bihar’s chief minister for the eighth time in a low-key ceremony at Raj Bhavan, after breaking relations with the BJP-led NDA and forming a ‘Mahagathbandhan’ coalition with the RJD.
Tejashwi Yadav, head of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), was also sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister.
According to sources, Nitish Kumar talked with both Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi shortly after leaving as chief minister. He was also said to have praised the Congress leadership for their assistance in the creation of the new administration.
“Madam Sonia Gandhi’s involvement as a mediator in establishing the coalition between the Mahagathbandhan and the JD(U) makes me extremely happy. Sonia Gandhi had a critical role in interfering in the state’s political situation and assisting in the creation of a new administration in the state,” Congress MLA, Pratima Das, said.
“The allotment of cabinet positions should be left to the party’s senior echelon, according to Congress leaders. Everyone has the right to comment in a democratic system, and the party’s top command is keeping an eye on developments and will make a final decision “She continued.
In a statement regarding being appointed as her minister, Pratima Das stated that she is not making any claims on her own. However, the party’s top command is keeping a close watch on everything. And the high command’s decision is final.
Since the change of guard in Bihar, Congress MLAs in the state have been embroiled in a fierce fight for cabinet positions. According to Ajeet Sharma, a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, the party should receive at least four cabinet positions.
On the other hand, Congress’ Khagaria MLA Chhatrapati Yadav has written to Sonia Gandhi requesting that he be appointed as a minister since he belongs to the ‘Yadav’ group.
Ajeet Sharma, a Congress lawmaker, has urged that the party be granted at least four places owing to the number of MLAs. Bhakta Charan Das, the party’s in-charge of Bihar affairs, has gone to Delhi to attend a meeting with the high brass and deliberate on the names of party leaders who would be inducted into the Bihar government. Shakeel Ahmad Khan, Santish Mishra, and numerous other Congress MLAs are in the national capital to meet with the high leadership.
On August 24, the Nitish Kumar-led Mahagathbandhan government will face a floor test in the Bihar Assembly to confirm its majority. According to sources, the Bihar Cabinet will be expanded on August 16.
Disagreements over a variety of topics, including caste census, population control, and the ‘Agnipath’ defence recruiting plan, strained relations between the BJP and the JD(U).
Tejashwi Yadav is slated to meet Sonia Gandhi at her home today at 5.30 p.m.
Also Read: Tejashwi Yadav slated to meet Sonia Gandhi before the Mahagathbandhan government’s floor test
