Daijiworld Media Network - Patna
Patna, Mar 5: In a significant political development that could redraw Bihar’s power landscape, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha, potentially paving the way for the BJP to have its own chief minister in the state for the first time.
Sources within the NDA said Nitish, who has dominated Bihar politics for over two decades, is expected to file his nomination for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for March 16. All NDA MLAs have reportedly been directed to reach Patna, indicating swift movement on the political front.
Senior JD(U) leaders held a closed-door meeting on Wednesday, and an official announcement regarding Nitish’s candidature is expected shortly. Party working president and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha is understood to have held discussions with Nitish, persuading him to shift to the Upper House at this stage of his long political career.
At 75, Nitish has taken oath as chief minister a record 10 times and has remained at the helm since 2015, except for a brief phase when Jitan Ram Manjhi was appointed chief minister following the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Known for spearheading campaigns both for the NDA and earlier the Mahagathbandhan, Nitish has been central to Bihar’s political narrative for years.
Political observers note that speculation about his transition to the Rajya Sabha had surfaced even before the 2025 Assembly elections, but the move was deferred in view of his stature and electoral importance.
Meanwhile, indications suggest that his son, Nishant Kumar, may be inducted as deputy chief minister in the new cabinet after the Rajya Sabha polls, signalling a possible generational shift within the JD(U).
The anticipated reshuffle also comes amid renewed debate over Bihar’s prohibition policy. Union ministers Jitan Ram Manjhi and Chirag Paswan have recently called for a review of the liquor ban, citing financial stress on the state. However, Nitish has consistently maintained his stand in favour of prohibition.
A senior BJP leader claimed that the state has been incurring an annual revenue loss of over Rs 30,000 crore due to the ban, adding that salary disbursements and pensions have faced delays amid financial constraints. A top official hinted that the policy could be revisited once a new cabinet takes charge.
On the electoral front, the JD(U) has decided to renominate Ram Nath Thakur, whose current term in the Rajya Sabha ends in April.
The BJP has named its national president Nitin Nabin and former MLA Shivesh Kumar as candidates. Former Union minister and Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha will also contest as an NDA nominee.
With elections to five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar due shortly, the developments signal a decisive turning point in the state’s political trajectory.