Nitish Kumar likely to have two deputies

Nitish Kumar who is to be sworn in as Chief Minister for the fourth straight term is likely to have two deputies from BJP instead of one. The BJP is also set to take the post of Speaker in the Bihar assembly, according to reports.
The decision was reportedly taken at a late night meeting between Nitish Kumar and top Bihar BJP leaders.

Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi are likely to be the new deputies to the Chief Minister. Mr Prasad, 64, has already been named the leader of the BJP legislature party.

Four-time MLA Renu Devi, asked about the reports, said she would follow the party’s orders.

Sushil Kumar Modi is likely to be a Union Minister soon. Mr. Modi and Mr. Kumar are believed to share a good rapport.

With Nitish Kumar’s party Janata Dal United ending up with far fewer seats than the BJP, which had so far played second fiddle in Bihar, the changes were inevitable, say sources.

“The BJP and the Sangh Parivar gave me so much in the political life of 40 years. I will discharge the responsibility that will be given to me. No one can take away the post of the party worker,” Mr Modi wrote on Twitter yesterday.

Nitish Kumar and the BJP retained power in the election that ended last week by winning 125 seats in the 243-member assembly. The Chief Minister’s party, however, ended at the third place, with the opposition RJD or Rashtriya Janata Dal of Tejashwi Yadav winning the most number of seats, followed closely by the BJP.