As Nitish Kumar takes charge of Bihar, Congress says Sonia Gandhi played key role to form Mahagathbandhan

As Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar CM for the eighth time, Congress MLA Pratima Das said Sonia Gandhi played a key role in the formation of Mahagathbandhan in the state.

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi played mediator in the formation of a new government in Bihar, Mahagathbandhan, party MLAs told India Today. JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar chief minister for a record eighth time in a no-frills ceremony at Raj Bhavan after snapping ties with the BJP-led NDA and joining hands with the RJD to form a ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav also took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister.

Sources had told news agency PTI that Nitish Kumar spoke to both Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi soon after resigning from his post of chief minister. He also learnt to have thanked the Congress leadership for extending support in the formation of the new government.

"The way Madam Sonia Gandhi played the role of mediator in forging the alliance between Mahagathbandhan and JD(U) makes me very proud. Sonia Gandhi played a crucial role by intervening in the political situation in the state and helped in the formation of a new government in the state," Congress MLA Pratima Das told India Today TV.

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"As far as allocation of ministerial berths is concerned, Congress leaders should leave that decision to the party's top brass. In a democratic set up, everyone has the right to speak and party high command is keeping an eye on the developments and they will take a final call," she added.

Giving a statement about being made her own minister, Pratima Das said that she is not making any claim from her side. But the party high command is keeping an eye on everything. And the decision of the high command is paramount.

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