Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha. The development comes amid a fast-moving transition in Bihar, with Kumar having already indicated that he will step down as Chief Minister shortly, and a new leadership will be put in place within days.
Senior leaders from Bihar, including Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Sinha and Samrat Choudhary, had reached New Delhi a day earlier and are expected to be part of key discussions linked to the transition.
Kumar had resigned from the Bihar Legislative Council on March 30 after being elected to the Upper House, clearing the way for his shift to Parliament.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi on Thursday, Kumar confirmed his decision to leave the Chief Minister’s post. “I have accomplished a lot of work in Bihar. Now I felt that I should remain here, and that is what I am doing,” he said.
He added that he would soon step aside. “I will step down from my role there and work here. I will resign in three or four days. New individuals will be appointed as Chief Minister and Ministers,” Kumar said.
He was accompanied by Janata Dal (United) National Working President Sanjay Jha and Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary during his visit.
Sanjay Jha had earlier indicated that the process to form a new government in Bihar would begin after April 13, but Kumar’s remarks suggest that the transition may now take place sooner.
NDA begins consultations on new Bihar leadership
Amid the political churn, Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said the ruling alliance remains united and committed to continuing Kumar’s governance approach.
“We will continue to work on the ‘Nitish Model’ under which Bihar has achieved significant progress over the past two decades. This legacy will guide our future path,” he said.
According to sources, Kumar is expected to attend a high-level meeting in New Delhi with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to finalise the roadmap for Bihar’s next government.
Senior leaders of the NDA are likely to take a call on the new Chief Minister and the distribution of portfolios during these discussions. The presence of Kumar alongside Modi and Shah highlights the importance of the meeting.
Meanwhile, both Deputy Chief Ministers, Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, are also in Delhi and are expected to take part in a BJP core committee meeting where power-sharing and leadership issues will be discussed.
The developments indicate that the NDA is moving quickly to ensure a smooth change in leadership in Bihar, with Kumar’s shift to the Rajya Sabha setting the stage for a new political arrangement in the state.