A period of calm has descended upon Bihar politics after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar filed his nomination papers for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections on Thursday. This has put an end to speculation about whether he would step down as Chief Minister to enter the Upper House and raised new questions about the state’s future leadership.
According to party insiders and political sources in Patna, this development has triggered a mild rift within the ruling coalition, and both sides are closely monitoring how the transition unfolds. While the Bharatiya Janata Party appears eager to consolidate its hold on the state leadership, the JD(U) is equally determined to ensure that the CM post does not slip from its grasp.
Kumar arrived at the Bihar Assembly with other NDA leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to complete the nomination process. After completing the necessary formalities, he filed his papers for the Rajya Sabha elections along with NDA candidates JD(U) leader and sitting Rajya Sabha MP Ram Nath Thakur, BJP President Nitin Naveen, BJP leader Shivesh Kumar, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha President Upendra Kushwaha.
Five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar are falling vacant as the terms of the same number of incumbent members will expire in April 2026.
Nitish Kumar, Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister, had previously stated in a message posted on X that he intended to contest the Rajya Sabha elections in the current cycle and assured the people that the new government would continue to receive his guidance and support.
“…I want to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the upcoming elections… The new government that will be formed will receive my full support and guidance.”
The JD(U) is considering two options, but the decision rests with Nitish Kumar.
This announcement has sparked discussions in political circles about who could replace Kumar if he steps down as CM.
Within the JD(U), sources say there is strong opposition to the idea of a BJP chief minister. Party leaders believe that giving the post to the BJP could diminish the JD(U)’s influence in the state and its political importance within the alliance.
Among JD(U) leaders, discussions about a successor seem to revolve around two possible options: Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar and senior minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary.
Party leaders have already confirmed Nishant’s entry into active politics. However, sources say that if Nishant Kumar’s name is formally proposed, the BJP may question his lack of political and administrative experience. “
Several JD(U) insiders also say that Vijay Kumar Choudhary, a longtime associate of Nitish Kumar, could be named Chief Minister. A senior minister in the state government and close to Nitish Kumar, he is also seen as a strong internal candidate. Party leaders often describe him as a trusted lieutenant of Nitish Kumar and well-versed in the workings of the government.