Decks were cleared on Wednesday evening for JD(U) president Nitish Kumar to be sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister for a record 10th time, after he met Governor Arif Mohammad Khan at Raj Bhavan to formally stake claim to form the next NDA government.

Just days after steering the NDA to a landslide victory in the Assembly polls, Nitish submitted his resignation as the head of the outgoing government. The Governor accepted it and asked him to continue as caretaker CM until the new government takes shape.

Nitish, 74, will take oath at 11 am on Thursday at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, in a ceremony set to be attended by top BJP and NDA figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J.P. Nadda, and chief ministers of several states.

Earlier in the day, the JD(U) and BJP legislature parties elected their respective leaders, with JD(U) MLAs unanimously re-endorsing Nitish as their leader.

In the joint NDA meeting of 20,2 newly elected MLAs at the Assembly’s Central Hall, he was formally elected the coalition’s legislative leader amid loud cheers and a giant garland ceremony.

Leaders, including Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, LJP (RV) chief Chirag Paswan, RLM president Upendra Kushwaha, and HAM(S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi were present.

At the BJP legislators’ meeting, central observer and UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya announced that Samrat Choudhary will continue as BJP Legislature Party leader and Vijay Kumar Sinha will stay on as deputy leader — confirming that both will return as Deputy Chief Ministers in the new Nitish Cabinet. Choudhary won from Tarapur, while Sinha retained Lakhisarai.

According to sources, around 20 ministers are likely to take oath alongside Nitish on Thursday.

The BJP is expected to retain senior faces such as Mangal Pandey, Nitish Mishra and Nitin Nabin, while also inducting new names. On the JD(U) side, ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Bijendra Prasad Yadav, and Shravan Kumar are likely to stay, with fresh additions expected.

Among NDA allies, LJP(RV) may get three berths, which Chirag Paswan could distribute across a Paswan (SC), an EBC, and an upper caste representative.

The RLM is likely to receive a portfolio, probably for Snehlata Kushwaha, who won from Sararam. HAM(S) may retain one ministry for Santosh Kumar Suman, son of Jitan Ram Manjhi.

The BJP, sources said, has also secured the agreement to retain the Speaker’s post. Veteran leader Prem Kumar is tipped to become the new Speaker.

The NDA returned to power with 202 seats in the 243-member House, crushing the Mahagathbandhan, which managed only 35 seats. The BJP won 89, JD(U) 85, LJP(RV) 19, HAM 5, and RLM 4.