End of an era? From 10-time CM to Rajya Sabha, Nitish Kumar’s move reshapes Bihar’s political equation

NEW DELHI/PATNA: After dominating Bihar’s political landscape for nearly two decades and taking oath as chief minister a record 10 times, Nitish Kumar now appears set for a transition to the Rajya Sabha — a move that could mark the closing chapter of an extraordinary state-level career.

A disciple of socialist stalwart Ram Manohar Lohia, Nitish cut his political teeth in the JP movement and was among the young leaders jailed during the Emergency. He was first elected MLA in 1985 — the last time he contested an assembly election. Since then, he has functioned either as an MLC or a Member of Parliament.




He entered the Lok Sabha from Barh in 1989 and represented the constituency for 15 years. In 1999, he served as railway minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government before becoming Bihar chief minister for the first time in 2000.

What followed was a remarkable run: nine more stints as CM, navigating shifting alliances between the NDA and the RJD-Congress combine, while retaining his centrality in Bihar’s fractured politics.

The 75-year-old JD(U) leader is expected to file his nomination in Patna on Thursday in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah and other senior NDA leaders. His shift to the Upper House is widely seen as paving the way for the BJP to install its own chief minister in Bihar for the first time.

Sources indicated that Nitish’s son, Nishant Kumar, is likely to formally enter politics by joining the state government. While speculation is rife that he could be accommodated as deputy chief minister, there is no official clarity yet on his role or portfolio.

Alongside Nitish, four other NDA nominees — including BJP state president Nitin Nabin, Union minister Ram Nath Thakur, and RLSP leader Upendra Kushwaha — are also set to file nominations.

BJP’s moment in Bihar

The BJP has played junior partner to Nitish since aligning with him in 1996 and continued backing him for the top post even in 2020 and 2025, despite emerging stronger in terms of MLAs. Party leaders cited his seniority and acceptability as key reasons.

However, concerns over Nitish’s health and advancing age had sparked speculation about a transition. While the timing has come earlier than expected, NDA insiders believe it will allow the new leadership sufficient time to settle in before the next electoral cycle.

Nitish’s Rajya Sabha tenure will formally begin after April 9, once the outgoing members retire, meaning he may continue as CM until then.

Frontrunners for top post

Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary is widely seen as the leading contender. A prominent Kushwaha leader — the second-largest OBC community after Yadavs — Choudhary rose rapidly within BJP ranks, serving as state unit president before being appointed deputy CM and entrusted with the home portfolio.

Union minister of state for home Nityanand Rai is another serious contender. A seasoned organisational figure and a Yadav leader, his elevation could help BJP make deeper inroads into a community traditionally aligned with Lalu Prasad’s RJD.

If BJP appoints its own CM, it would mark a symbolic milestone, placing the party at the helm across the Hindi-speaking belt, barring Himachal Pradesh.

JD(U) recalibration

Within JD(U), the leadership appears to have reconciled to a diminished role in the alliance. Signals of an impending shift were visible when Nitish ceded the home portfolio to BJP earlier this term — a first in his long tenure.

Nishant’s likely induction is viewed as an attempt to energise JD(U)’s cadre and consolidate support among backward and Dalit communities amid uncertainty over the party’s future.

Nitish has dominated Bihar politics since 2005, barring a brief interlude after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when he handed over charge to Jitan Ram Manjhi following JD(U)’s poor performance. Over the years, he shifted alliances — breaking with BJP, aligning with RJD, and returning to the NDA — while retaining his position as the pivot in Bihar’s fragmented political landscape.

Even as the party publicly reiterated that “Nitish Kumar is the most accepted leader of Bihar,” sections within JD(U) are said to be uneasy. Some fear his move to Delhi could be interpreted as a forced exit, especially if BJP installs its own chief minister.

The coming days are expected to formally mark the end of an era in Bihar politics — and the beginning of a new power equation in the state.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !