Nitish Kumar Moves to Parliament, Paving Way for Political Shift in Bihar

Veteran Bihar leader Nitish Kumar on Thursday took oath as a Member of the Rajya Sabha, marking the end of his active role in state politics. The 75-year-old leader was elected to the Upper House as a candidate of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). With his transition to Parliament, the path has now been cleared for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to appoint its own Chief Minister in Bihar for the first time in the state’s history. According to sources, the contours of the new government are expected to become clear after April 13, coinciding with the festival of Baisakhi. Nitish Kumar began his political journey in 1985 as a विधायक (MLA) and later served as a Union Minister in the government led by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Since 2005, he has held the position of Bihar Chief Minister for most of the period, with only brief interruptions. His political career has been marked by significant shifts in alliances. Since 2013, Nitish Kumar changed political sides four times, often aligning with different coalitions to retain power when faced with challenges to his leadership or party. Before moving to Delhi, Nitish Kumar introduced his son Nishant into active politics through the Janata Dal (United). Nishant is currently touring Bihar, although matching his father’s political stature is expected to be a considerable challenge.