Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is set to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha later on Thursday after a Nazarath receipt was issued in his name at the Bihar legislative assembly, formally paving the way for his candidature.
Senior leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are expected to be present during the nomination process. Union home minister Amit Shah is likely to arrive in Patna around 12.30pm and attend the filing of nomination papers by Nitish, Bharatiya Janata Party national president Nitin Nabin and Janata Dal (United) leader Ramnath Thakur.
Bihar BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi said Shah would participate in the nominations of NDA candidates. “Union home minister Amit Shah is coming around noon. He will participate in the nomination of our national president Nitin Nabin and other NDA leaders for the Rajya Sabha elections. The nominations are expected to take place between 1.30pm and 2pm,” he said.
Meanwhile, senior JD(U) leader and Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, met Nitish at the chief minister’s official residence at 1 Aney Marg earlier in the day. Speaking to reporters, Singh said the final decision about Kumar’s Rajya Sabha move rested with the chief minister.
“Nitish Kumar will decide on this. The chief minister has to take this decision. He will go wherever he wants. The party was formed by him. No one can even imagine what Nitish Kumar has achieved in Bihar. Nitish Kumar has made Bihar,” Singh said.
The developments come amid continuing protests by some JD(U) workers outside the chief minister’s residence. Supporters gathered outside the premises raising slogans of “Nitish Kumar zindabad” and urging him to remain in Bihar politics.
JD(U) leader Santosh Kushwaha said Nitish should not move to the Rajya Sabha, while party worker Manoj Kushwaha alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched against the chief minister and warned that supporters would oppose such a move.
Security around the chief minister’s residence has been tightened as political activity intensifies in Patna ahead of the Rajya Sabha nomination process.
