The Janata Dal (United) leader, who secured his Rajya Sabha seat on March 16 with the backing of 44 MLAs, submitted his resignation through party leader Sanjay Gandhi in line with constitutional requirements. His move to Parliament, expected to be formalised in early April, has sharpened focus on a possible leadership change in Patna, even though no official timeline has been announced.
For a state long shaped by Kumar’s leadership, the question is no longer abstract. Who comes next is now at the centre of Bihar’s politics.
Also read: Nitish Kumar set to resign as Bihar MLC on Monday, say sources
A frontrunner emerges
Among the names being discussed within the ruling National Democratic Alliance, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has emerged as the leading contender.
A senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader from the Kushwaha community, Choudhary has built a strong organisational base and administrative profile in recent years. His proximity to Kumar has added to his credibility as a successor.
The signals from Kumar himself have added weight to the speculation. During a recent public outreach programme in Saharsa, he placed his hand on Choudhary’s shoulder and urged people to support him, even asking citizens to report development issues directly to the deputy chief minister. “I have told him to do many other works for the people,” Kumar said, appealing for public backing.
Caste calculus and BJP’s options
Beyond Choudhary, the BJP is weighing other options as it balances caste equations and electoral strategy in a politically sensitive state.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai is seen as a strong alternative. A prominent Yadav face within the BJP, his elevation could help the party make inroads into a voter base traditionally aligned with leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav.
Other names in circulation include Bihar minister Dilip Jaiswal, known for his organisational reliability and influence in the Seemanchal region, and Sanjeev Chaurasia, a five-time MLA from Patna with deep party roots.
Meanwhile, Hindustani Awam Morcha chief Jitan Ram Manjhi has convened a meeting with party MLAs, adding another layer to the coalition’s internal consultations.
Also read: Nitin Nabin resigns as Bihar MLA, set for bigger role in Rajya Sabha
End of an era, or a transition?
Kumar’s shift to the Rajya Sabha marks a turning point in a political career that has spanned decades, from his early years as an MLA in the 1980s to becoming Bihar’s longest-serving chief minister with ten terms since 2005. He has also served as a Union minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Even as he prepares for a parliamentary role, his influence over the state’s politics is expected to remain. Leaders within the NDA have already indicated that any future government would continue to seek his guidance.
For now, the final call likely rests with the BJP’s central leadership. As Bihar watches closely, the choice of the next chief minister will not only decide the immediate future of the government but could also reshape the state’s political equations ahead of crucial elections.
