As political talks intensify, Nitish Kumar is likely to push for key demands. He wants at least four Cabinet positions, early state elections, and more funding for Bihar. Let me tell you these are not all based on reports and not some thing that he has claimed.
Well, Nitish Kumar has become a very critical to the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre.
The BJP’s inability to win a majority on its own means it will need support from allies like Nitish Kumar to form the next government. The NDA, which includes the BJP, is comfortably above the majority mark of 272 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha. However, this is the first time since 2014 that the BJP has not reached the halfway mark on its own. The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance won 233 seats.
Infact a JD(U) leader told media that People aware of the matter said Kumar wants at least four to five Cabinet berths. The JD(U) was promised at least three Cabinet berths and one minister of state (MOS) before the election results. “ JD(U) is in a better bargaining position now. We are hoping to get at least four Cabinet berths. One more MOS post could be asked for. We want portfolios that give us leverage in accelerating development in the state,” said the JD(U) leader.
State BJP leaders have opposed JD(U)’s demand for early elections, which are due in October-November in Bihar.
Nitish Kumar is expected to ask for more central funds to support the Bihar Laghu Udhyami Yojana. This program, announced in February, aims to give ₹2 lakh to 9.4 million poor families identified in the 2023 socio-economic survey.
The state Cabinet has approved ₹2.5 lakh crore over five years to fund this scheme. They also plan to ask the central government to give Bihar special status, which would help the state get more funds.
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