Nitish Kumar's decision to contest the Rajya Sabha elections signals the end of his long-standing tenure as Bihar's Chief Minister, paving the way for a potential BJP leader to take the helm.
Key Points
- Nitish Kumar announces his candidacy for the Rajya Sabha elections, concluding his term as Bihar's Chief Minister.
- Kumar expresses gratitude to the people of Bihar for their trust and support during his tenure.
- He pledges his continued commitment to Bihar's development and offers his guidance to the incoming government.
- A BJP leader is expected to succeed Kumar as Chief Minister, potentially marking the first time the party holds the post in Bihar.
- Five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar will be contested in the upcoming elections.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha polls on Thursday.
Kumar filed the nomination papers in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the office of Assembly Secretary Khyati Singh in Patna.
Kumar announced his decision to enter the Rajya Sabha earlier in the day, bringing the curtains down on his tenure as the longest-serving CM of the state.
Kumar, who has been the chief minister for a record 10 terms since 2005, said the new government that will be formed in the state will have his full cooperation and guidance.
"For more than two decades, you have consistently placed your trust and support in me, and it is on the strength of that trust that we have served Bihar and all of you with complete dedication. It was the power of your trust and support that has enabled Bihar today to present a new dimension of development and dignity," he said in a post on X, expressing gratitude to the people of the state.
Kumar said that from the very beginning of his parliamentary journey, he wanted to become a member of both Houses of the state legislature as well as both Houses of Parliament.
"In keeping with this aspiration, I seek to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time," he said.
"I want to assure you with complete honesty that my relationship with you will continue in the future as well, and my resolve to work together with you to build a developed Bihar will remain steadfast. The new government that will be formed will have my full cooperation and guidance," he added.
Who will replace Nitish as Bihar CM?
With Kumar stepping down after leading the ruling NDA to a landslide victory in the assembly elections held in November last year, a BJP leader is expected to take over the top post.
If that happens, Bihar will get its first BJP chief minister -- the only Hindi heartland state where the party has not held the office so far.
Five Rajya Sabha seats from the state will go to the polls on March 16, and the filing of nomination papers will close on Thursday.
Kumar's election to the Upper House of Parliament is all but certain, as per the tally in the state legislature.
Since morning, a large number of JD-U workers have been demonstrating outside the CM's residence, protesting Kumar's decision.
State Sunni Waqf Board chairman Alhaj Mohammad Irshadullah, a JD-U leader, said, "Party workers are not happy with Nitish Kumar's decision to leave Bihar politics and go to Rajya Sabha. When I came to know about it, it was a shocker for me. He should have remained the CM".
Nitish Kumar's son to enter politics?
Reacting to Kumar's announcement, RJD leader Manoj Jha told PTI Video, "After reading the tweet, it is guaranteed that he has not dictated or written this. It came from Delhi. The core of JD-U is hurt by this...."
The development comes two days after JD-U leaders said the CM's son, Nishant Kumar, will enter active politics.
"On the eve of Holi, I have some good news to share with the people of Bihar. It has been some time since there have been demands, from within the JD(U) as well as from among the state's youth, that Nishant, the son of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, join politics. Decks have been cleared for that, and a formal announcement will be made in a day or two," Rural Development Minister Shrawon Kumar told PTI on Tuesday.
Speculations are rife that Nishant, an engineering graduate in his 40s, will join the new government as the deputy CM.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, one of the contenders for the CM's post, congratulated Kumar on his decision.
"Your visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to good governance, and your continuous efforts for the all-round development of Bihar are an inspiration to all of us. I am confident that with your experience and leadership, the dignity of the Rajya Sabha will be further strengthened," the BJP leader said in a post on X.
The Rajya Sabha elections will be held as the tenures of JD-U's Harivansh Narayan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur, RJD's Prem Chand Gupta and Amarendra Dhari Singh, and RLM's Upendra Kushwaha are ending.
First preference votes of 41 MLAs are needed to win a Rajya Sabha seat. At present, the NDA has 202 seats in the 243-member assembly, with the BJP at 89 and the JD-U at 85.
The BJP has named its newly-appointed president Nitin Nabin, a member of the legislative council, and state general secretary Shivesh Kumar as its candidates, besides backing Kushwaha, who entered the House in 2025, for another term.
Apart from Kumar, the JD-U is likely to send Thakur to the Rajya Sabha for a third term, but is yet to announce his name officially.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to attend the filing of the nominations.
© 2026