Patna: A poster proclaiming Nishant Kumar as the “future chief minister of Bihar” has been put up outside the Janata Dal (United) office in Patna, underscoring growing speculation within the party over succession as chief minister Nitish Kumar weighs a possible move to the Rajya Sabha.
The poster features a photograph of Nishant Kumar, the son of the incumbent chief minister, alongside the slogan “Future CM of Bihar”, and a line appealing to Nitish Kumar not to step down or leave the state. “Why are you contemplating such a move, when the people of Bihar cannot accept you stepping down,” it reads, reflecting unease among sections of party workers over his reported plans.
Demands for Nishant Kumar to take on a larger political role have gathered momentum in recent days. Party supporters have increasingly projected him as a potential successor, including during his recent visit to the JD(U) office and earlier appearances in Nalanda, where local supporters echoed similar calls.
The debate comes amid uncertainty over leadership in the event that Nitish Kumar transitions to national politics. While some JD(U) members have openly backed Nishant Kumar, others have pointed to alternative contenders within the ruling alliance. Samrat Choudhary, Bihar’s deputy chief minister, is also seen as a possible candidate for the role.
Meanwhile, Anant Singh, the MLA from Mokama, recently described Nishant Kumar as “chief minister material”, citing his education and temperament, though he added that it remained too early to predict the final decision.
Despite the public displays of support, neither the JD(U) nor its National Democratic Alliance partners have issued any official statement on the question of succession, leaving the matter open as political signalling intensifies ahead of any leadership transition.
