'New govt will be formed...': Nitish Kumar quits Bihar CM seat mid-way in 10th term, moves to Rajya Sabha, hectic parleys underway for new leadership

Almost four months after being sworn in for a record 10th term as Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar has confirmed that he is moving to Rajya Sabha. In a post on X, Nitish Kumar said that he is seeking to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time. He said that new government will be formed with his “full cooperation and guidance.” The Janata Dal (United) supremo, accompanied by other National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidates, and Home Minister Amit Shah filed nomination papers for Rajya Sabha. His exit has triggered chatter over his successor and with sources stating that the BJP, who is in alliance with JDU in the state, will chose its party leader for the top post this time. Sources from the BJP also hinted at Samrat Choudhary's name for the top post.

Explaining his decision, Nitish Kumar said that since the beginning of his parliamentary journey, he wanted to become the member of both Houses of the Bihar Legislature as well as both Houses of Parliament. “For more than two decades, you have consistently placed your trust and support in me, and it is on the strength of that trust that we have served Bihar and all of you with complete dedication. It was the power of your trust and support that has enabled Bihar today to present a new dimension of development and dignity. For this, I have expressed my gratitude to you many times in the past as well,” he added in his farewell post thanking the people of the state.

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According to his career so far, he has already been a Lok Sabha MP, an MLA, and an MLC. Becoming a Rajya Sabha member would complete his “desire” to be the member of all Houses. Nitish's announcement is timely as the Rajya Sabha nomination closes on Thursday. The BJP has fielded its national president Nitin Nabin and Bihar unit general secretary Shivesh Kumar as candidates. NDA ally Upendra Kushwaha, president of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, and JD(U) leader and Union minister Ramnath Thakur are also contesting. Notably, former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav, and late Sushil Modi, who served as Bihar's Deputy CM, also served in both Houses of Parliament and Assembly. With Nitish's exit, prominent Emergency-era leaders of Bihar - Lalu, Nitish, Sushil Modi and Ram Vilas Paswan - are all gone from state's political landscape.

Issuing statement on the development, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is in Patna, said "Today, Nitish Kumar, Bihar's CM, also filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha. With this, after a long gap, he will once again enter national politics as a Rajya Sabha MP. Nitish Kumar served as CM of Bihar from 2005 until now. His tenure was truly glorious. This tenure will be written as a golden chapter in Bihar's history, shaping the entire gamut of Bihar's development... Throughout his long career as an MLA, MP, Chief Minister, and Union Minister, his kurta was never stained. His entire life was free from corruption charges…He is once again returning to Delhi as a Rajya Sabha MP. I and all our NDA colleagues heartily welcome him, and his tenure as Chief Minister will always be remembered and respected by the people of Bihar..."