End of an era: Nitish Kumar to file Rajya Sabha nomination today, quit as Bihar CM

by

New Delhi: Nitish Kumar is set to move to the Rajya Sabha, resigning from the post of Chief Minister of Bihar. In a post on X, Kumar has said that he had long wished to serve as a member of both Houses of Parliament and both Houses of the state legislature. He has already been a Lok Sabha MP, an MLA, and an MLC, and a Rajya Sabha stint would complete the set.

The development comes around four months after Kumar, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, led NDA to a sweeping victory in the Bihar assembly elections in November. Kumar took oath as chief minister for a record 10th time.

As Kumar moves to the Rajya Sabha, it will pave the way for BJP to have its own CM in the state for the first time. The move was in the offing following Kumar’s failing health. The NDA apparently cleared the decks for his exit on Wednesday night.

Reports said that Kumar will file his nomination for Rajya Sabha on Thursday. This will set off a flurry of political activity in Patna.

What Nitish Kumar said

Ahead of filing his nomination, the Janata Dal (United) chief expressed his gratitude to the voters for their lasting support, saying their trust had allowed him to serve the state for over two decades.

In a post on X in Hindi, he said: “From the very beginning of my parliamentary journey, I have harboured a desire to become a member of both Houses of the Bihar Legislature and both Houses of Parliament. In keeping with that aspiration, I seek to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections taking place this time.”

He added: “I wish to assure you (supporters) with complete honesty that my bond with you will endure in the future as well, and my resolve to work alongside you to build a developed Bihar will remain steadfast.”