After the Bihar Assembly election results, deliberations within the NDA over power-sharing have intensified. Discussions are underway regarding the allocation of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and ministerial portfolios. Amid these consultations, a strong demand has emerged from Gaya and the wider Magadh region seeking the appointment of HUM Party’s national president and outgoing minister Santosh Kumar Suman as Deputy Chief Minister. Leaders of several NDA allies have argued that Suman’s elevation would open new avenues for the development of the Magadh region.

According to local leaders of the JDU and HUM, several development projects in Magadh have remained stalled for years. They believe Santosh Suman’s appointment as Deputy Chief Minister could accelerate these long-pending initiatives.

JDU leader Sablu Khan said the demand is rising directly from the people.
“In Imamganj and adjoining areas, the pace of development seen in the past eleven months has been unprecedented. No one has done this much work since Independence. People want Santosh Suman to become Deputy Chief Minister,” he said.

Senior JDU leader Mohammad Alexander Khan stated that Santosh Suman comes from the Mahadalit community and commands respect across social groups.
“For the upliftment of Mahadalits and for regional balance, this step is crucial. I do not think Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will object to this demand,” he remarked.

HUM Party leader Diwakar Kumar also endorsed the demand. He said the overwhelming mandate received by the NDA has raised public expectations on development.
“This is the time to give strong leadership to the Mahadalit community. Appointing Suman as Deputy Chief Minister will be a milestone,” he said.

Meanwhile, Santosh Kumar Suman himself distanced from the ongoing speculation.
“There is no question of me being made Deputy Chief Minister. Whatever responsibility I am given, I will carry it out with full commitment. This victory belongs to the people, and their blessings matter most,” he said.

Within the NDA, a series of high-level meetings is still underway. Political observers say the demand emerging from Magadh has added a new layer of complexity to the power-sharing equation. All eyes are now on the upcoming NDA meeting, where final decisions on key posts—including that of the Deputy Chief Minister—are expected to be taken.