Patna: Nitish Kumar is unlikely to step down immediately as Bihar chief minister following his election to the Rajya Sabha, with sources indicating a phased transition that could extend into April.
The Janata Dal (United) leader, who has led Bihar for nearly two decades barring a brief interlude, is expected to first resign from his position as a member of the Bihar legislative council (MLC) before vacating the chief minister’s post.
Legal timeline shapes transition
Under constitutional provisions and election laws, Nitish Kumar must resign from the state legislature within 14 days of being declared elected to Parliament. This places the deadline around March 30.
Failure to do so would result in the automatic forfeiture of his Rajya Sabha seat, which is scheduled to begin on April 10.
Despite stepping down as an MLC, he can continue as chief minister until he formally takes oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha. Sources suggest he may resign from the top post in the second week of April.
NDA yet to decide successor
The transition has triggered political activity within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), although no formal decision has been taken on Nitish Kumar’s successor so far.
Discussions among alliance partners—including the BJP, JD(U), LJP(R), HAM and Rashtriya Lok Morcha—are expected to gather momentum after March 26, when the chief minister’s ongoing “Samriddhi Yatra” concludes.
The process is likely to involve separate meetings of each party’s legislators, followed by a joint meeting to elect the leader of the NDA legislature party, who will then take over as chief minister.
Other Rajya Sabha winners
Alongside Nitish Kumar, four other candidates were elected to the five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar, including BJP leader Nitin Nabin, RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha and JD(U) leader Ramnath Thakur.
Both Nitish Kumar and Nitin Nabin are required to resign from their current legislative positions within the stipulated timeframe. The newly elected members are expected to take oath after April 10, following the completion of the outgoing members’ terms.
Uncertainty over timing
While the timeline for Nitish Kumar’s exit is broadly shaped by legal requirements, the exact sequence of events remains uncertain. He may either oversee the transition before leaving for Delhi or complete the process after assuming his role in Parliament.
For now, political attention remains focused on who will succeed him and whether the next leadership will maintain continuity or signal a shift in Bihar’s governance priorities.
