Patna (TIP): Bihar’s chief minister-designate Nitish Kumar hailed the National Democratic Alliance’s victory in the just-concluded assembly elections on Thursday but refused to speculate on the oath-taking ceremony even as his rival and Opposition Grand Alliance (GA) leader Tejashwi Yadav rejected the results and pushed for a recount of votes.

Speaking in his first press conference since securing a narrow majority for the NDA, Kumar – who was seeking his fourth consecutive term this election — also said that the chief minister will be decided by the NDA. “I have made no claim, the decision will be taken by NDA. I don’t have any personal interest or aspirations. My only interest is service of people,” he told reporters. Leaders from the Janata Dal (United) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quickly clarified that the formal selection of the NDA leader – likely to be Kumar — was to be done by all four constituents, but added that it was a formality. Kumar spent the day meeting party office-bearers and newly-elected MLAs at the JD(U) office, two days after the NDA won 125 seats in the 243-member assembly, with the GA winning 110. “People have given the mandate to NDA and it will form the government,” he said. The 69-year-old leader, whose party won only 43 seats compared to the BJP’s 74, said the new government’s swearing-in ceremony was not fixed, and could take place after Diwali or Chhath. “Members of all four parties will meet tomorrow followed by an official meeting of all allies, then the process of government formation will start,” said Kumar.

Bihar’s three-phase polls, the first mass election since the Covid-19 pandemic struck India, was a fiercely fought affair that went down to the wire as votes were counted well into the night on Tuesday. The NDA finally emerged with a thin majority but in many constituencies, the results were decided by a wafer-thin margin, prompting the GA to allege irregularities – charges that were later dismissed by the Election Commission.

But Yadav – whose Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) emerged as the single-largest party with 75 seats – continued to allege procedural lapses and said he would move court if the EC didn’t provide satisfactory explanations.

Yadav, 31, said the coalition lost 20 seats because of alleged lapses and said he didn’t accept defeat as the “people’s mandate” was in favour of the GA. “I will soon launch a thanksgiving campaign across for the big support people gave us,” he said. Yadav said the difference in vote share between the NDA and GA was 0.1% and demanded a recount, especially of postal ballots.

“It was undoubtedly a mandate for change. The NDA used dhan (money), bal (power) and chhal (deceit) to win polls. We could have got 130 seats had there been no electoral malpractices,” he said.

He also urged Kumar to step down. “Nitish ji should stop plotting if he has some morals left. He must respect people’s decision & step down from his position,” Yadav said, after being chosen the leader of the GA.

At his press conference later in the day, Kumar refused to respond to this jibe. “What do I have to say in such matters,” he replied dismissively.

Kumar said the fixed procedure of government formation was to be followed. “The existing house is till November 29 and before swearing-in of the new government, the house has to be dissolved and a leader of ruling alliance has to be elected,” he said.

A senior Raj Bhavan official said they had not received any communication about the oath ceremony. On Thursday, the chief electoral officer (CEO) handed over the list of elected candidates to the governor. A senior JD (U) leader said the dates for the ceremony would be decided by the BJP. A senior BJP functionary said that dates for the ceremony may depend on availability of senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kumar denied that there was any pressure from any quarter on him.

“There will be no problem in running the government. I have always been uncompromising on the three Cs: crime, corruption and communalism. There is going to be no change. Not a single riot has taken place since I took over,” he said. He added that his party was analysing what went wrong on some seats and how votes got divided. “Some people succeeded in creating confusion but I do not have any doubts on any allies. The JD(U) suffered on more seats than the BJP due to this confusion,” said Kumar. When asked about the future of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), which largely put up candidates against JD(U), but continues to remain in NDA at the Centre, Kumar put the ball in the BJP’s court. “It’s for BJP to decide whether or not LJP should be retained in NDA,” he said.

Stricter foreign funding rules for NGOs

The government has issued a notification changing the rules of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act — FCRA — to tighten norms for flow of foreign fund to the voluntary sector in India.

The new rules require any organisation that wants to register itself under the FCRA to have existed for at least three years and to have spent a minimum of Rs 15 lakh on its core activities during the last three financial years for the benefit of the society.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has also mentioned that office-bearers of the voluntary organisations seeking registration under the FCRA must submit a specific commitment letter from the donor indicating the overseas contribution amount and the purpose for which it is proposed to be given. Election candidates, government servants, members of any legislature and political parties have also prohibited from accepting foreign funding.