PATNA: BJP’s four-time MLA from Katihar, Tar Kishore Prasad, is likely to become the state’s deputy chief minister in the fourth NDA government, replacing the party senior Sushil Kumar Modi (SuMo), who was otherwise deemed to be a fixture for the post in the Nitish Kumar-led government, party sources said. BJP may also have second deputy CM in its five-time MLA from Bettiah, Renu Devi.
Things, however, would be clear during the swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhavan when governor Phagu Chauhan would administer the oath of office of CM to Nitish on Monday, sources said.
SuMo, called the ‘Laxman’ of CM Nitish Kumar since 2005 when the NDA came to power in Bihar, issued three tweets in a span of 13 minutes from 4.09pm, hailing the selection of Prasad as the leader of BJP legislature party and Renu as its deputy leader.
“The BJP and the Sangh Parivar have given me so much in 40 years that others might not have got. I will continue to fulfil any responsibility that is given to me even in the future. Nobody can take away the post of party worker from me,” SuMo issued an emotional tweet indicating that people will miss the ‘Ram-Laxman jodi’ (Nitish-SuMo pair) in Bihar.
Indeed, an era will be over, as SuMo remained Nitish’s deputy for around 11 years — first from November 2005 to June 2013 and then from July 2017 to November 2020.
Earlier in the day, Prasad had been unanimously elected as the BJP legislature party leader and Renu as its deputy leader.
A motion in this regard was gone through, albeit partially, at the state BJP headquarters, where the party’s seniors deputed by the central leadership, Bhupender Yadav and former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, asked the MLAs and MLCs present to join the meeting of the NDA legislators, triggering the unfolding of a highly suspenseful drama.
“Because the names of Prasad and Renu were announced at the meeting of the NDA legislators, where the MLCs of the NDA constituents were also present, it was deemed that they had been elected leader and deputy leader of the BJP legislature party comprising MLAs and MLCs, respectively, and not just of the BJP in the state legislative assembly,” an informed BJP source said.
Further, as there is no provision for the post of deputy CM in the Constitution, it has always been the CM’s prerogative to designate any of the ministers as deputy CM. Also, a couple of states like UP have even three deputy CMs. In the situation, the fourth NDA government led by Nitish may have two deputy CMs.
The source said Prasad, who belongs to the Kalwar caste in OBC category, will represent the political aspirations of Mithila, Kosi and the Seemanchal regions. Renu, who belongs to Nonia caste in EBC category, will represent the western north Bihar districts of Champaran. The three regions — Mithila, Seemanchal and Champaran — together have given a good number of seats to the BJP in the state assembly elections this year, he added.