Patna: Political speculation around Nishant Kumar, the son of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, intensified on Saturday after a Janata Dal (United) legislator claimed the party had decided to make him deputy chief minister in the next state government.
Harinarayan Singh, the JD(U) MLA from Harnaut in Nalanda district and considered close to the chief minister, said a “unanimous” decision had been taken during a meeting of the party’s legislative group to appoint Nishant Kumar to the post.
Speaking to a television news channel in Patna, Singh said the decision was discussed during the legislative party meeting held at the chief minister’s residence a day earlier.
“In the legislative party meeting held at the chief minister’s residence yesterday, a unanimous decision was taken to appoint Nishant as deputy chief minister in the new government,” Singh said.
He added that it had also been decided that Nishant Kumar would formally join the JD(U).
According to Singh, Nishant Kumar is expected to enter the Bihar legislature through the legislative council. He may contest the biennial elections to the council scheduled for April, which will fill nine seats.
Singh said it had not yet been decided whether Nishant Kumar would become deputy chief minister immediately after the formation of the new government or at a later stage.
“That decision will be taken by the top leadership at the appropriate time,” he said, adding that he could not comment on speculation that the JD(U) might push for the appointment of two deputy chief ministers in the new administration.
The developments come shortly after Nitish Kumar informed party colleagues of his decision to step down as chief minister and move to the Rajya Sabha.
The move has triggered speculation about the political transition in Bihar. Observers expect the chief minister’s post to go to the Bharatiya Janata Party, the largest party in the ruling National Democratic Alliance in the state.
At present, the Bihar government has two deputy chief ministers from the BJP — Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha — with Chaudhary also holding the home portfolio.
Nitish Kumar, who has often criticised dynastic politics in the past, was sworn in for a fifth consecutive term as chief minister less than four months ago.
