End of an era! Nitish Kumar files nomination for Rajya Sabha, Bihar likely to get BJP CM

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According to the reports, BJP has asked Nitish to nominate a successor of his choice — names of Nishant, Shravan Kumar from JD(U), Samrat, Vijay Sinha, Nityanand Rai doing the rounds from BJP

New Delhi: In a major development, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will file a nomination for Rajya Sabha today. This move will leave Bihar to brace for a new chief minister. According to the reports, there would be a BJP chief minister in the state this time. JDU president Nitish Kumar has confirmed that he would be resigning as Chief Minister and moving to the Rajya Sabha after over two decades of leading the state government. Kumar has said in a post on X that he long harboured a wish to become a member of both Houses of Parliament and both Houses of the state legislature. “For the past two decades, you have trusted and supported me, and I have served you with full dedication. It is your trust and support due to which Bihar is setting new standards in development,” he wrote. “Since the beginning of my parliamentary career, I had a desire in my heart to become a member of both Houses of state legislature, as well as both Houses of Parliament. That’s why I want to become a Rajya Sabha MP in the upcoming election,” Kumar wrote. “I assure you that my relationship with you will continue, and I will keep working for a developed Bihar. The new government will enjoy my full support and guidance.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit Patna Wednesday amid these speculations. While there is no official confirmation of this, either from the BJP or the JD(U), reports added that Nitish Kumar had signed the form for his Rajya Sabha nomination. As per an Indian Express report quoting sources, Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, Bihar minister Dilip Jaiswal, and Digha BJP MLA Sanjeev Chourasia are among probable chief ministerial candidates, while JD(U) might well have two deputy CMs in Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Nishant Kumar. It is important to note that Nitish had made a national record by taking oath as CM for a record 10th time last November. Talking about the latest developments, an NDA leader said: “There had been initial discussion of Nishant Kumar being sent to Rajya Sabha. However, Nishant reportedly showed his keenness towards starting his political innings from Bihar. While these discussions were on, BJP Central leadership reportedly advised Nitish Kumar to go to Rajya Sabha and nominate a successor of his choice. Nitish agreed to it, even though several party leaders did not approve the idea”.