Bihar is set for a major political transition as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken oath as a Rajya Sabha MP, marking the final stage before stepping down from his long-held position in the state. While he is expected to return to Patna shortly after the ceremony, attention has now shifted to the formation of a new government and the selection of his successor.
According to sources, Kumar is likely to resign as Chief Minister on April 14, when the NDA legislative party is scheduled to meet and formally elect the next leader. This move will end his decades-long tenure at the helm of Bihar politics and signal a generational and strategic shift within the ruling alliance.
Within the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is poised to secure the Chief Minister’s post for the first time in Bihar, internal discussions are underway at the highest level. Senior leaders are meeting in New Delhi to finalise the leadership transition, with consultations involving both central and state-level figures.
Among the frontrunners, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has emerged as the leading candidate to take over as Chief Minister. His presence in Delhi, along with fellow deputy Vijay Kumar Sinha, indicates that the final decision is being shaped through close coordination between state leadership and the party’s central command.
Kumar’s transition to the Rajya Sabha follows a series of steps he initiated in recent weeks, including resigning from the Bihar Legislative Council and contesting the Upper House elections. He had framed this move as fulfilling a long-standing ambition to serve in both state and national legislatures.
The development comes shortly after Kumar led the NDA to a strong electoral performance in Bihar, reaffirming his influence despite shifting political dynamics. However, his move to national politics now opens the door for a new leadership structure in the state, with the BJP expected to take a more prominent role in governance.
If confirmed, Samrat Chaudhary’s elevation would mark a historic moment for the BJP in Bihar, reshaping the state’s political landscape and redefining the balance of power within the NDA alliance.
