There are clear indications that Bihar may soon see a change in leadership, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar planning to join the Rajya Sabha. The political debate surrounding his possible departure from the position of Chief Minister gained momentum on Thursday, 5th March, after he shared a post on the social media platform X (Twitter) announcing his intention to contest the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.
In the post, he wrote, “… I seek to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time. I want to assure you with complete honesty that my relationship with you will continue in the future as well, and my resolve to work together with you to build a developed Bihar will remain steadfast. The new government that will be formed will have my full cooperation and guidance.”
Leaders from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) have earlier confirmed on Wednesday, 4th March, that Nitish Kumar was likely to file his nomination to join the Upper House of Parliament, a move that may signal the arrival of a new Chief Minister in the state.
STORY | Nitish considering a shift to Rajya Sabha: Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 4, 2026
Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary on Wednesday confirmed that CM Nitish Kumar was considering getting elected to Rajya Sabha, a move that could effectively bring the curtain down on the… pic.twitter.com/NMpxLviM1f
According to media reports, the next Chief Minister may come from the BJP. However, neither party has given any official word on this. Since the terms of some Rajya Sabha MPs end in April, Nitish Kumar may take some time before officially leaving the position of Chief Minister.
Efforts within JD(U) to stop his exit
Late on Wednesday night, several senior leaders from JD(U) and members of Nitish Kumar’s family gathered at the Chief Minister’s residence in Patna. They were reportedly trying to convince him not to resign from the post.
JD(U) minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary acknowledged that discussions were taking place but said the final decision would depend entirely on Nitish Kumar himself. “There have been talks about Nitish Kumar going to the Rajya Sabha. But the final call has to be taken by him only… Nishant is joining politics soon, as per the wish of the party rank and file.”
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is supposed to visit Patna on Thursday, 5th March. He will join the nomination of BJP leader Nitin Nabin, who has been chosen as the party’s candidate for the Rajya Sabha from Bihar.
Health concerns behind the move
Sources within the NDA alliance have suggested that Nitish Kumar’s declining health may be one of the major reasons behind this development. According to insiders, the Chief Minister has been facing several health problems in recent months.
A source said, “The CM has been facing serious health issues,” adding that there is a growing perception that the state administration is currently being run mostly by bureaucrats rather than by the political leadership.
Although neither the BJP nor JD(U) has officially confirmed the move, sources claim that Nitish Kumar has already “signed the papers” for his Rajya Sabha nomination.
NDA’s strong performance in the last election
The possible leadership change comes only a few months after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a huge victory in the Bihar Assembly elections held last November. Out of the 243 seats in the Assembly, the NDA won 202 seats.
The BJP emerged as the largest party with 89 seats, while JD(U) won 85 seats. For JD(U), this was a major improvement compared to the previous election, as the party gained 42 additional seats. Many party leaders credited Nitish Kumar for this strong performance.
Despite the speculation surrounding his future, JD(U)’s national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha could not be reached for comment.
Possible names for the next Chief Minister
If Nitish Kumar eventually steps down, several names are already being discussed for the Chief Minister’s post. According to sources, the leading contenders include Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha. Industry Minister Dilip Jaiswal and BJP MLA Sanjeev Chourasia are also being mentioned as possible candidates.
There are also reports that JD(U) could retain influence in the government by having two Deputy Chief Ministers. In that case, Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, can be given those positions as well. Moreover, at the same time, Union Minister Nityanand Rai can also emerge as a new contender for the position of the Chief Minister.
The timing of these developments has surprised many political observers. If Nitish Kumar does step down now, it will happen just three months after the NDA returned to power with a massive mandate.
An NDA leader said, “Earlier, it was being decided that Nishant Kumar would be sent to the Rajya Sabha. However, Nishant Kumar wanted to enter politics directly from Bihar.”
According to the leader, “There had been initial discussions on sending (Nitish’s son) Nishant Kumar to the Rajya Sabha. However, Nishant reportedly showed his keenness towards starting his political innings in Bihar. While these discussions were on, the BJP central leadership reportedly advised Nitish Kumar to go to the Rajya Sabha and nominate a successor of his choice. Nitish agreed to it, even though several party leaders did not approve.”
