New Delhi: Nishant Kumar, the son of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is all set to join the JD(U) on March 8. The announcement was made by the party amidst the talks of Nitish moving to the Centre with a Rajya Sabha seat. Despite pressure from some of his party colleagues and the public, Nitish Kumar has made it clear that he will move to the Rajya Sabha and not continue as the CM of the state.
Nishant to be formally inducted in JD(U), might get Deputy CM post
Meanwhile, at the age of 50, Nishant Kumar is set to step into politics. On Friday, at a key JD(U) meeting the party’s national working president Sanjay Jha moved a resolution to enable Nishant to formally join the party. The meeting was held at the CM’s residence.
It is believed that Nishant was initially reluctant to join politics, but later relented after discussions with his father, senior party members and also members of his extended family. The move however is seen against long held principles of CM Nitish Kumar, who has opposed dynastic politics.
JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar was quoted by the Times of India as saying, “Resolution was unanimously endorsed by all MLCs and MLAs and Sanjay Jha later announced the historic decision.”
Speculation is rife that Nishant might either be appointed as a Deputy CM in the new government set to be formed in the state, or he might get some key organisational role in the party. A new government, with a BJP CM is likely to be formed in the state, following Nitish Kumar’s resignation. The resignation is expected after the Rajya Sabha election results are announced.
The move to appoint Nishant as Deputy CM or an important role in the JD(U) is being seen as an attempt to fill the vacuum which will be left in the party, after the CM moves to the Centre.
Nishant is an engineer by training and completed his BTech from BIT Mesra in Jharkhand.
According to party spokesperson, Neeraj Kumar, Nishant will start a tour of Bihar and interact with party workers, soon after joining the JD(U).
Will continue to support Bihar’s development: CM Nitish Kumar
Meanwhile, at the meeting of JD(U) leaders at his residence, CM Nitish Kumar promised to oversee the development of the state, despite his move to the Rajya Sabha. He also promised to keep a base in Bihar, despite his Rajya Sabha move.
Nitish also dismissed all speculations that he was forced to move to the Rajya Sabha. He assured his partymen that the decision to file nominations for the Rajya Sabha was his own.
The CM reportedly told the legislators, “When I was working with former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Centre, Vajpayee jee used to advise me to remain in Delhi. But I told him my first priority was Bihar and returned. Now I have decided to go to Rajya Sabha. I will arrange a house in Patna and spend more time in Bihar. You will not face any difficulty. All work started by our government will continue uninterrupted.”