Bihar, which has 243 assembly seats, can have up to 36 ministers, including the chief minister

Nitish Kumar on Tuesday took stock of preparations for the oath-taking ceremony scheduled at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan at 11am on Thursday even as allies Janata Dal (United) and Bharatiya Janata Party negotiated for key portfolios and the position of speaker ahead of their respective legislature party meetings.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah, several central ministers and chief ministers of National Democratic Alliance-ruled states are expected to attend the ceremony which will herald the fifth consecutive term for Kumar.

“Amit Shah will arrive in Patna on Wednesday evening. The confirmation about chief ministers would also come on Wednesday,” said a BJP functionary

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