Nitish Kumar, leader of the Janata Dal United and Chief Minister of Bihar, took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha on Friday, April 10, nearly a month after being elected to the Upper House on March 16. Although he continues to hold the position of Chief Minister, his entry into Parliament signals an imminent leadership change in the state.
Under constitutional provisions, Nitish Kumar can remain Chief Minister for up to six months after becoming a Member of Parliament. However, he was required to step down as a Member of the Legislative Council within 14 days of his election, which he did on March 30.
When will Nitish step down as Chief Minister?
A political transition appears to be taking shape in Bihar as Nitish Kumar shifts his focus from Patna to Delhi. According to reports, senior BJP leaders are holding discussions in the capital to finalize the next phase of leadership in the state.
BJP state president Nitin Nabin has stated that there are no disagreements within the NDA regarding the appointment of a new Chief Minister. Meanwhile, senior Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary confirmed that Nitish Kumar would first complete formalities in the Rajya Sabha before any decision is taken in Patna. He indicated that Nitish is expected to resign within two to four days after returning from Delhi, following consultations with party leaders.
Choudhary explained that after taking the oath in Parliament, Nitish will return to Patna and step down as Chief Minister once internal discussions are concluded. He also noted that the process of choosing the next Chief Minister will follow the established procedures of the NDA legislature.
Nitish Kumar is the longest-serving Chief Minister of Bihar. He began his political career as an MLA in 1985 and later served as a Union Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government before first assuming office as Chief Minister in 2005.
Speaking in Delhi, Saraogi described the moment as significant for both Bihar and Nitish Kumar, calling him a mass leader who played a key role in ending the era of lawlessness associated with the RJD and driving the state’s development.
