Patna: At an Iftar gathering in Patna hosted by Jitan Ram Manjhi, Bihar’s political succession came into focus after the former chief minister indicated that Nitish Kumar may be leaning towards Samrat Choudhary as his preferred successor.
The event, attended by several senior NDA leaders including Samrat Choudhary and other ministers, became a platform for speculation over the state’s next chief minister. Manjhi, founder of the Hindustani Awam Morcha and a Union minister, said Kumar’s decisions tend to reflect his intent clearly. “If he is giving indications in this direction, it can be assumed he will follow through,” Manjhi said, adding that he himself had earlier been elevated to the top post at Kumar’s discretion.
Manjhi suggested that any leadership transition aligned with Kumar’s choice would be accepted within the alliance. Kumar, who has led Bihar for multiple terms, has not publicly named a successor.
Meanwhile, political tensions sharpened as Tejashwi Yadav came under attack from NDA leaders. Santosh Kumar Suman criticised the RJD leader for his absence from recent political developments, calling him a “fugitive” and accusing him of withdrawing after electoral setbacks. Suman argued that while defeat is inherent to democratic politics, a robust opposition remains essential—something he claimed Yadav has failed to provide.
Separately, the ruling Janata Dal (United) highlighted Kumar’s ongoing outreach through the ‘Samriddhi Yatra’. The party’s state president, Umesh Singh Kushwaha, said the tour has generated public enthusiasm and allowed the chief minister to directly assess development schemes and address citizens’ concerns.
Kushwaha credited Kumar’s leadership for Bihar’s transformation over the past two decades, arguing that the state has moved beyond its earlier “BIMARU” classification and is now progressing steadily through sustained governance and policy focus.
