JDU’s National Executive Meeting Not Taking Place On August 29, Party Issues Statement

Nitish Kumar dissolved the coalition with the BJP and filed a claim to form a government with the RJD earlier this month, changing the political landscape in the state.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

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Rejecting the rumour, the Janata Dal (United) announced on Saturday that there would be no meeting of the party's National Executives on August 29, according to a press release from the party, news agency ANI reported.

“There is such news circulating in media that a meeting of the national executive of Janata Dal-United is being scheduled on August 29, 2022. Party clarifies with full responsibility that no such meeting of the national executive of the party is going to take place on August 29, 2022,” the official was quoted by ANI in its report.

Earlier, it was reported that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would chair a meeting to discuss the state's current political situation following the formation of a new government, and that during the meeting, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, ministers of the state government under JD-U quota, MPs from both houses of Parliament, MLAs, MLCs, and other leaders would participate, but the party dismissed the reports as rumours.

Nitish Kumar dissolved the coalition with the BJP and filed a claim to form a government with the RJD earlier this month, changing the political landscape in the state.

On August 10, Kumar was sworn in as Chief Minister for the ninth time, and he extended his cabinet a week after parting with the BJP.

A total of 31 ministers were appointed into the Bihar cabinet from various parties affiliated with the state's Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance.

Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new Ministers at Raj Bhavan on August 16.

The RJD received 16 cabinet positions, while the Janata Dal (United) received 11.

Tejashwi Yadav's brother Tej Pratap Yadav, Samir Kumar Mahaseth, Chandrashekhar, Kumar Sarvajeet, Lalit Yadav, Surendra Prasad Yadav, Ramanand Yadav, Jitendra Kumar Rai, Anita Devi and Sudhakar Singh, and Alok Mehta took the oath on behalf of the RJD.

Congress members Afaque Alam and Murari Lal Gautam were sworn in as ministers, as was Hindustani Awam Morcha politician Santosh Suman.

The Bihar cabinet, including the Chief Minister, can contain up to 36 ministers. According to insiders, several ministerial vacancies would be kept unfilled for future cabinet growth.

Earlier this month, Nitish Kumar broke away from the BJP and established a coalition government with the RJD and other parties. On August 10, the Chief Minister and his deputy, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, took the oath of office.

The Bihar Grand Alliance has a total of 163 members. Its effective strength increased to 164 as Independent MLA Sumit Kumar Singh backed Nitish Kumar. On August 24, the new administration is expected to win a majority in the Bihar legislature.

(With Inputs From ANI)