Patna: Speculation over a leadership change in Bihar has intensified, with reports suggesting that chief minister Nitish Kumar may resign from his post on April 12 following his election to the Rajya Sabha.
According to political sources, Nitish is expected to travel to Delhi on April 9 and take oath as a member of the upper house on April 10. He is likely to return to Patna on April 11 and may submit his resignation to the governor the following day, though no official confirmation has been issued.
If the transition proceeds as anticipated, the process of forming a new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the state could begin immediately after his resignation, with April 14 being discussed as a tentative date for the swearing-in of a new chief minister.
However, uncertainty remains over the timing due to the ongoing Kharmas period, which is considered inauspicious for major ceremonies in Hindu tradition. This has led to speculation that the oath-taking ceremony may take place after April 14.
The question of succession also remains unresolved. Within the Bharatiya Janata Party, deputy chief minister Samrat Chaudhary is being widely discussed as a potential candidate. Other names in circulation include Nityanand Rai, Vijay Sinha, Dilip Jaiswal and Mangal Pandey.
Leaders within the alliance have indicated that the decision on the next chief minister will be taken collectively by the NDA’s top leadership.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Jha, national executive president of the Janata Dal (United), said recently that no decision has yet been made regarding which party will lead the next government.
Political observers suggest that the transition could also lead to a reshuffle of the cabinet of ministers, with a new cabinet likely to be sworn in alongside the incoming chief minister.
