Nitish Kumar, Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister, officially transitioned to national politics on Friday by taking the oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha. The ceremony was conducted by Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan in his chamber. High-profile attendees included Union Minister J P Nadda, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal.
This move marks the definitive conclusion of Kumar’s tenure in Bihar state governance. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is scheduled to elect a new Chief Minister on April 14. While the official announcement awaits a legislative party meeting, internal sources suggest the final candidate will be selected by the central leadership in Delhi.
Samrat Chaudhary, the current Deputy Chief Minister, is widely considered the leading contender. Chaudhary belongs to the Koeri caste, a significant OBC demographic. Since joining the BJP less than a decade ago, he has seen a rapid ascent, becoming state party president in 2023 and Deputy CM a year later.
Nityanand Rai, the Union Minister of State for Home, is also a prominent candidate. Rai, a former state BJP chief, maintains a strong influence among OBC and backward classes. He is noted for his close professional relationship with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Other names in circulation include Dilip Jaiswal, the current Minister of Industries and Road Construction, and Sanjeev Chaurasiya. Chaurasiya, a Brahmin leader from the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) community, aligns with the state’s current caste-based political calculations following the recent census.
Bihar Legislative Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar is also being considered. As an educated leader from the EBC community, his credentials may influence the final decision. Meanwhile, JD(U) sources indicate the party will seek a significant presence in the new cabinet, potentially pushing for Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, to occupy a Deputy Chief Minister position.
