Lobbying intensifies for Bihar assembly speaker post as NDA weighs options

A day after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar distributed portfolios to his new ministerial team, competition within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has intensified over who will become the next Speaker of the Bihar Assembly.

BJP veteran Prem Kumar, a nine-term MLA from Gaya Town, has emerged as the leading contender, with party insiders citing his seniority and long legislative experience. JD(U) legislators, meanwhile, are also pushing the name of Jhajha MLA Damodar Rawat for the post, according to coalition sources.

A special session of the Assembly is expected to be convened soon for the swearing-in of all 243 newly elected members, followed by the Speaker’s election.The state Cabinet, scheduled to meet on November 25, is likely to finalise the session dates.

Ahead of the proceedings, the Governor is expected to appoint a Protem Speaker to administer the oath to the legislators before the formal election takes place.

Both the BJP and JD(U), the two main partners in the NDA, are seeking the prestigious Speaker’s chair. JD(U) leaders acknowledge that lobbying has picked up pace, while BJP members note that Prem Kumar is being widely viewed as the frontrunner.

Prem Kumar, who previously served as the cooperative minister in the NDA government, secured victory over Congress candidate Akhaury Onkar Nath by 26,423 votes. He also served as Leader of the Opposition between 2015 and 2017.

JD(U) members maintain that Damodar Rawat is also seriously being considered. In the previous Assembly, the Speaker’s position was held by BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav, while JD(U)’s Narendra Narayan Yadav was the Deputy Speaker.

Some JD(U) leaders argue that since BJP’s Awadhesh Narain Singh currently heads the state legislative council, the Assembly Speaker’s post should go to their party. In such a scenario, the BJP may settle for the Deputy Speaker’s role, sources suggest.

Nitish Kumar was sworn in on Thursday for an unprecedented tenth term as Chief Minister. Twenty-six ministers also took oath 14 from the BJP, eight from the JD(U), two from the Lok Jan Shakti Party (Ram Vilas), and one each from the Hindustani Awam Morcha and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha.