New Delhi: Bihar may soon see a major change in leadership as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to resign on Tuesday after his election to the Rajya Sabha. According to sources, the new Chief Minister may take oath the next day in a ceremony that could see the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders.
BJP set to take top post
If the plan goes ahead, the next Chief Minister will come from the BJP. This will be the first time the party leads the government in Bihar. The BJP traces its roots in the state to the 1962 Assembly elections when the Bharatiya Jan Sangh won three seats.
Samrat Choudhary frontrunner
Sources in the NDA said Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is the leading choice for the post. He has support from alliance partners, including the JD(U). There is also speculation that Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, may become Deputy Chief Minister.
At present, Bihar has two Deputy Chief Ministers, Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, both from the BJP. JD(U) leaders are in favour of having only one Deputy Chief Minister to avoid internal power conflicts.
NDA meeting and cabinet plans
JD(U) sources said Nitish Kumar may propose the name of his successor during an NDA meeting on Tuesday. “The entire NDA has been clear about Nitish Kumar declaring his successor,” said a JD(U) leader.
The NDA is likely to keep most of the current cabinet with small changes. BJP leaders Vijay Kumar Sinha, Mangal Pandey and Dilip Jaiswal are expected to continue as ministers. The JD(U) may bring in a few new faces.
End of a long tenure
Nitish Kumar has already started shifting from the Chief Minister’s residence to 7, Circular Road. His resignation will close a long political chapter in Bihar.
He became Chief Minister for the second time on November 24, 2005. He has taken oath as CM ten times. Under his leadership, the alliance recorded major wins. It secured 206 out of 243 seats in 2010, 178 seats in 2015, and 202 seats in 2025.