Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has taken oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha, marking his formal entry into the upper house of parliament and signalling a shift to a more prominent national role. His induction drew a wave of congratulations from leaders across the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Among the more restrained responses came from Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who chose not to congratulate Kumar directly. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Manjhi wrote that he would “not offer congratulations” and instead said: “Bihar will miss you, Nitish ji.”
आज मैं नीतीश जी को राज्यसभा के सदस्य के तौर पर शपथ लेने की बधाई नहीं दूँगा।
बस इतना कहूँगा।
“बिहार विल मिस यू नीतीश जी।”
ये मैं ही नहीं पूरे बिहार की जनता कह रही है।@NitishKumar @VPIndia— Jitan Ram Manjhi (@jitanrmanjhi) April 10, 2026
Expanding on his message, Manjhi said the sentiment was not only his own but reflected that of people across the state, adding a personal and emotional tone to his remarks. He has previously welcomed Kumar’s move to the Rajya Sabha, but his latest post suggested a more reflective farewell to the state-level leadership role.
Kumar’s transition has been widely framed by supporters as a continuation of his political career at the national level. Following the oath-taking, he is expected to engage more directly in parliamentary politics and is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah later in the day.
PM Modi also publicly congratulated Kumar on X, describing him as one of the country’s most experienced leaders and praising his contribution to governance and the development of Bihar. He said Kumar’s “commitment to good governance” had been widely recognised and expressed confidence that his presence in parliament would further strengthen its functioning.
नीतीश कुमार जी देश के सबसे अनुभवी नेताओं में से एक हैं। सुशासन को लेकर उनकी प्रतिबद्धता की हर तरफ सराहना हुई है। उन्होंने बिहार के विकास में अमिट योगदान दिया है। उन्हें एक बार फिर संसद में देखना बहुत सुखद होगा। सांसद और केंद्रीय मंत्री के रूप में भी उन्होंने कई वर्षों तक अपनी…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 10, 2026
Kumar, a long-serving political figure in Bihar, has previously served as both a member of parliament and a Union minister. His move to the Rajya Sabha has prompted a series of political reactions, with allies highlighting his experience and long association with state and national politics.
