Nitish set to step down as Bihar CM, to contest RS poll

Bihar's longest-serving CM Nitish Kumar may move to the Rajya Sabha, paving the way for the BJP to take the top post while accommodating his son Nishant as deputy CM.

Bihar was abuzz with speculation on Wednesday that Janata Dal-United president and the state's longest-serving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may move to the Rajya Sabha, paving the way for the Bharatiya Janata Party to take the top post while accommodating his son Nishant as deputy CM.

Sources from the JD-U stated that the veteran leader might transition to the Rajya Sabha, days after the Election Commission announced the polls for the upper house.

This comes amid a meeting that was held at the Bihar Chief Minister's residence in Patna between Kumar, JD-U national working president Sanjay Jha, and Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary.

However, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union minister Giriraj Singh dismissed the rumour as a 'Holi prank', asserting 'Nitish Kumar ji is the chief minister'.

The filing of nomination papers for five Rajya Sabha seats in the state will close on Thursday.

Nitish son set to join politics 

While the BJP has named its two candidates, including national general secretary Nitin Nabin, and confirmed a second consecutive term for junior National Democratic Alliance ally Upendra Kushwaha, the JD-U is yet to officially announce its nominees.

The rumours of Kumar, who turned 75 earlier this month, being one of the candidates of JD-U, surfaced a day after the party had announced that his son Nishant would be making a belated entry into politics.

Earlier, there was speculation that the reclusive Nishant, who is in his late 40s and is yet to be formally inducted into the JD-U, could be sent straight to the Rajya Sabha.

However, with less than 24 hours left for filling of nomination papers, several media outlets ran reports claiming that the chief minister, who has been at the helm since 2005, could choose the Rajya Sabha route to make an 'honourable exit'.

Bihar to get first BJP CM?

According to these unconfirmed reports, the BJP, which has been outperforming the JD-U in elections, will have its own CM in the only Hindi heartland state where the highest seat of power has eluded it.

These reports also suggested that as a bargain, Kumar could settle for the deputy CM's post for his son.

When Giriraj Singh, who represents Begusarai Lok Sabha seat in the state, was approached with queries, he said, "Today is Holi. Such pranks are common on the occasion. Nitish Kumar ji is the chief minister".

JD-U MLC Sanjay Kumar alias Gandhi ji, a close aide of the party supremo, reacted with bewilderment when his response was sought to the rumours.

"We have no information about who will be the Rajya Sabha candidates of the party. There is an impression that Union minister Ram Nath Thakur may retain his seat, but that is also not official. As regards the other seat, it is a decision to be taken by the chief minister, who is known to reveal his cards at the eleventh hour. We cannot say anything on the reports in the media," he said.

Nitish likely to file nomination for RS polls on Thursday

Nitish Kumar is likely to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha polls in Patna on Thursday, according to sources, indicating the state may get a new CM.

The JD-U president is likely to file his nomination alongside BJP national president Nitin Nabin in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, they said.

Filing of nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha polls will close on Thursday.

"JD-U president Nitish Kumar and BJP national president Nitin Nabin will file their nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections on Thursday. Home Minister Amit Shah will remain present on the occasion," a source in the NDA told PTI.

Asked if Kumar will also resign as Bihar chief minister, the source said it will happen in due course of time.

This comes barely about four months after Kumar, Bihar's longest-serving chief minister, was sworn in for a record 10th term at a grand ceremony in Patna on November 20. The event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief ministers of several NDA-ruled states, and senior alliance leaders following the NDA's landslide victory in the state polls.

The BJP has named its party chief Nitin Nabin and its Bihar unit general secretary Shivesh Kumar as its candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls. NDA ally and Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha has also been nominated as a candidate for the polls.

However, the JD-U is yet to officially announce its nominees.

On Tuesday, Bihar rural development minister Shrawon Kumar told PTI, "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," he had said.

Shrawon Kumar has been a close aide of the JD-U supremo since the Samata Party days in the 1990s.