'Had always desired': Nitish Kumar announces Rajya Sabha entry; says new govt in Bihar will have his 'full support'

BJP has asked Nitish to nominate his successor

Patna: In a dramatic turn of events where all speculations were put to rest, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar confirmed on Thursday that he would become a Rajya Sabha member and the State would have a new Chief Minister.

“It was my desire to become a member of both the Houses of Parliament, just like I have been a member of both the Houses of the State legislature. I have been a member of the Legislative Assembly, the Legislative Council and the Lok Sabha. Now, I feel I should be a member of the Rajya Sabha as well,” said Nitish in a post in Hindi on X. “The new government in Bihar will have my full support and proper guidance,” Nitish hastened to add, thereby bringing the rumour mill to a grinding halt.

His post sounded more like a farewell speech from the outgoing Chief Minister, wherein he thanked everyone. “For the last two decades, you have shown implicit faith in me and I have served you with full dedication. It is your trust because of which Bihar was put on the fast track of good governance and it set new standards of development ... I assure the new regime my full support,” wrote Nitish, clearing the air on the possibility of his entering the Rajya Sabha.

CM since 2005

Nitish, who has been serving as Chief Minister of Bihar since November 2005, has been at the helm barring a short span when he handed over the reins to his trusted colleague Jitan Ram Manjhi from May 2014 to February 2015.

Nitish was first elected as an MLA from Harnaut in 1985, before being elected as a Lok Sabha member from Barh in Bihar for the first time in November 1989. Since 2006, he has been a member of the Legislative Council and never contested any Assembly polls after becoming the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, security arrangements were beefed up in the State legislature following a decision by Nitish to file his nomination papers. BJP national president Nitin Nabin is also likely to file his papers on Thursday, the last day to file nominations.

Nitish's successor

The BJP has, meanwhile, asked Nitish to nominate his successor. As there was a pall of gloom among JD(U) supporters over the decision of Nitish to enter the Rajya Sabha and eventually quit as Chief Minister, sources in the ruling JD(U) said his son, Nishant Kumar, is likely to be the new Deputy Chief Minister in the BJP-headed government. Nitish’s another key aide Vijay Choudhary is likely to be the second Deputy Chief Minister, an arrangement similar to the present one where the BJP has two Deputy CMs while the JD(U) held the top post.