Nitish Kumar Sunday returned as the chief minister of Bihar, nine months after he resigned following his party JD-U's massive defeat in the 2014 general elections. Party leaders said he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek more funds to speed up development work in the state.
The 66-year-old Janata Dal-United leader was administered the oath of office as the 24th chief minister of Bihar by Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi.
Along with Nitish Kumar, 22 ministers also took oath at a simple ceremony at Raj Bhavan here. Most of the ministers were in his earlier cabinet and are considered loyal and trusted.
Nitish Kumar had resigned as chief minister last year after the JD-U's rout in the Lok Sabha polls. Jitan Ram Manjhi, who was made chief minister in May 2014, resigned Feb 20 after a political row in the state.
JD-U leaders said Nitish Kumar will seek a meeting with Modi in the first week of March to request more funds for the state's economic development.
"Governor K.N. Tripathi, who administered oath to Nitish Kumar and his ministers, directed the new government to seek a confidence vote in the assembly in March," officials said.
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The party's national general secretary K.C. Tyagi said Nitish Kumar will meet Modi for the sake of Bihar's development.
"Nitish Kumar will certainly meet Modi soon," Tyagi told media persons ahead of the oath-taking ceremony.
JD-U state president Vashisht Narain Singh told IANS: "There is a need for more cooperation from the central government for the state's development. Nitish Kumar will meet Modi soon."