Nitish Kumar took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha on Friday. The oath ceremony was held in the chamber of Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan, in the presence of several senior leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
In Patna, political developments in Bihar indicate the possibility of a leadership change in the state. Discussions within the NDA regarding a potential change in leadership have intensified. According to sources, the top leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has initiated strategic deliberations on a new chief ministerial face in Bihar. Social equations, particularly the role of the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) and Scheduled Castes (SC) communities, are also being considered in these discussions.
Amid these developments, senior leader Nitish Kumar’s swearing-in as a Rajya Sabha member marks a significant development in Bihar’s political landscape. The ceremony in the Chairman’s chamber was attended by Union Minister J. P. Nadda, Lalan Singh, Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha, along with Sanjay Jha and senior leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy. Following the oath-taking, Nitish Kumar departed for Patna.
Sources indicated that a key meeting of BJP’s top leadership is likely to be held in Delhi, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah expected to participate. However, a previously proposed meeting has been deferred. Internal deliberations within the party on the next chief minister of Bihar are ongoing.
According to discussions in political circles, the BJP may seek to balance social representation by considering a new leadership face, with possible preference for leaders from EBC or SC communities.
Unconfirmed timelines under discussion suggest that Nitish Kumar may hold his final cabinet meeting as Chief Minister on 13 April and could resign from the post on 14 April. This may be followed by a meeting of the NDA विधायक दल to elect a new leader, with the swearing-in of a new government possibly taking place on 15 April. No official confirmation of these dates has been issued.
Within the BJP, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is among the names being discussed for the chief minister’s post. He belongs to the Kushwaha community and has played an active role in the government during the previous term. His coordination with party leaders is also being noted. Political observers indicate that the BJP may prioritise social diversity in leadership, potentially increasing representation for EBC and SC communities.
