PATNA, Nov. 17 -- Incumbent chief minister Nitish Kumar held a series of crucial meetings with senior coalition leaders on Sunday, signaling intensified efforts toward forming the next government. The discussions come amid lingering speculation over the chief ministerial face, even as sources indicate Kumar is poised to retain the top post. On Sunday, MoS, home Nityanand Rai, a prominent BJP leader from Bihar who played a pivotal role in bolstering the alliance and leading the campaign alongside Union home minister Amit Shah, met Kumar at his residence. Sources close to the discussions revealed that the meeting focused on cabinet berth allocations and policy priorities for the new term, stressing continuity in development projects. Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha, whose party won four seats, also called on Nitish. Kushwaha, a vocal advocate for Kumar during the electioneering, has repeatedly demanded that the JD(U) leader be projected as NDA's CM face, citing his experience in navigating Bihar's complex caste dynamics. Dy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha joined the deliberations, underscoring the coalition's unity despite the BJP's numerical edge. Dy CM Samrat Chaudhary, widely regarded as second in clout within the government, met Kumar separately to discuss the historic victory and strategies for the formation of the next government. Working president of JD(U) and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Kumar Jha, a close aide of Nitish Kumar, also held a separate meeting with him. Union minister JD(U)'s Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh followed suit in a separate interaction, emphasising the need for cohesive decision-making ahead. All these leaders met the CM individually, offering him bouquets and extending heartfelt congratulations for the resounding victory of the alliance. These interactions follow a similar meeting on Saturday with LJP(RV) chief Union minister Chirag Paswan, who expressed his party's eagerness to join the government. Paswan, whose outfit performed strongly, has nominated state party chief Raju Tiwari as legislature party leader, signalling readiness for ministerial roles. "The NDA's victory under Nitish Kumar's leadership is historic," Paswan said post-meeting, dispelling rumors of internal friction. While no official announcement has been made on the CM post, NDA leaders have refrained from public disclosures, fuelling uncertainty. However, insiders confirm Kumar's swearing-in is likely on November 19 or 20, with PM Modi expected to participate. The JD(U) and BJP have stressed collective decision-making in the legislature party meeting scheduled for Monday. Opposition figures from the RJD and Congress have remained silent on potential alliances, but the results mark their worst showing in over a decade. The NDA, comprising the BJP, JD(U), LJP(RV), HAM (S) and RLM, secured a historic mandate with 202 seats in the 243-member assembly. The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 89 seats, followed by Kumar's JD(U) at 85, LJP(RV) with 19, and others contributing the rest. In contrast, the opposition Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), was decimated, managing only 35 seats, with the RJD itself winning 25. This landslide, described as the NDA's best performance in Bihar's history, has been attributed to effective caste alliances, women's empowerment schemes, and anti-"jungle raj" rhetoric targeting the RJD's past governance....