Patna: The suspense over Bihar’s next chief minister is expected to end after a crucial meeting of the BJP legislative party in Patna, where the party will elect its leader. The name is set to be announced by Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who has been appointed by the BJP as the central observer for the process. The meeting is likely to be held on April 14 or 15.Chouhan, who was named central observer on Sunday, is scheduled to arrive in Patna on April 14. His appointment signals that the BJP has formally begun the process of forming a new govt in Bihar, two days after outgoing CM Nitish Kumar took oath as a Rajya Sabha member.In an official notification, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh on Sunday said, “The parliamentary board of the BJP has appointed Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union minister for agriculture and farmers welfare and rural development, as the central observer for the election of the leader of the BJP’s legislative party in Bihar.”Responding to his appointment, Chouhan said he would discharge the responsibility with complete honesty and commitment. Speaking to reporters at Raisen in Madhya Pradesh, he said, “I am a BJP worker. Whatever work is given to me, being a worker it is my duty to discharge it with full honesty and integrity.”He also thanked the BJP leadership for entrusting him with the assignment. “The party considered me capable of handling the responsibility, for which I remain thankful towards the party leadership,” he said.Chouhan added that he would stay in Raisen district until April 13 in line with party instructions, as the day marks the conclusion of the local “Unnat Krishi Mela”. He will then travel to Patna on April 14.The election of the BJP legislature party leader is a key step towards the formation of the new govt in Bihar. According to sources in the NDA, the legislative party meeting is expected shortly after Chouhan’s arrival in Patna, either on April 14 or April 15. The outcome of the meeting will determine who takes over as the next chief minister of the state.
