Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is expected to resign from his post after taking oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha on April 10, paving the way for the formation of a new NDA government in the state.
Senior leaders in the Janata Dal (United) indicated that Nitish is likely to travel to Delhi on April 9 for the swearing-in ceremony and return to Patna the following day. His resignation as chief minister is expected within a few days of his return, possibly between two and four days.
Nitish has already resigned from his membership of the Bihar legislative council following his election to the upper house, signalling the transition to a new phase in his political career.
New Government Likely By Mid-April
Party leaders said the process of forming a new government in Bihar is likely to begin immediately after Nitish steps down, with the new chief minister expected to take office by mid-April.
While the succession remains undecided, discussions within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have intensified, with several names emerging as potential contenders.
Among leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), deputy chief minister Samrat Chaudhary is seen as a frontrunner. Other names being discussed include Nityanand Rai, Vijay Sinha, Dilip Jaiswal and Mangal Pandey.
Within the JD(U), there has been speculation around Nishant Kumar, with some party members suggesting his name for the top post. However, senior leaders from both JD(U) and BJP have indicated that the final decision will be taken collectively by the NDA leadership.
Transition To Parliamentary Role
Nitish’s move to the Rajya Sabha marks a new chapter in his long political career. Having previously served as a Lok Sabha MP, MLA and MLC, he will now complete his tenure across all major legislative platforms.
Party insiders said the chief minister has a clear roadmap for the transition and is “completely at ease” with the developments.
The impending leadership change comes at a time of heightened political activity in Bihar, with attention now firmly focused on who will take over the reins of the state government.
