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
New Delhi/Patna: In a dramatic political development, Bihar chief minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the upcoming biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha after helming the state for over two decades. While the Opposition parties termed the development the "betrayal" of the people's mandate, it has paved the way for a new government in the state, likely to be headed by the BJP.
Four months after taking the oath of Bihar chief minister for the 10th time, Kumar announced his intention to return to Parliament through an X post after turning 75 four days back. The decision comes as rumours regarding his health have been doing the rounds for some time now.
The development, however, did not go down well with the JD(U) supporters and workers, who staged protests and blamed several senior party leaders for “backstabbing” Kumar, who is given credit for bringing the extremely backward classes (EBC) of the state to the political forefront. Security had to be beefed up at 1, Anne Marg, the official residence of the Bihar CM, as JD(U) workers gathered there to express their anger and stage protests.
As anger grew among JD(U) cadres, Kumar announced his decision through a post on X. “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…"
"In keeping with this aspiration, I seek to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time," Kumar posted. But the announcement failed to pacify the JD(U) workers, who claimed that it was not Kumar’s personal decision. JD(U) MLC Sanjay Gandhi faced the wrath of party workers, who damaged the party offices.
With Kumar all set to reach Parliament’s Upper House, speculation has begun on his successor. Speculation is rife that the next Bihar CM could be from the BJP and Kumar's son Nishant could make his political debut and become the deputy CM. At this juncture, names that are doing the rounds include that of Union minister Nityanand Rai, deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary and minister Dilip Jaiswal. However, knowing the way the BJP works under the present leadership, there could possibly be a dark horse.
While it is not clear who will be the next CM, the speculation of the BJP getting the CM’s chair drew sharp criticism from the JD(U) cadre. Several JD(U) workers were seen expressing their anguish before the media and alleging that the BJP “used” Kumar’s leadership to win the recently concluded Assembly polls in the state.
Even within the BJP there is an apprehension over the numerically strong EBC votebank’s reaction, for whom Kumar is the leader. The EBC, which proved to be a counter against the RJD’s Muslim-Yadav votebank, has been strongly backing Kumar. JD(U) leadership, including working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, Union minister Rajiv (Lalan) Singh, and Vijay Kumar Choudhary, had to face criticism.
Incidentally, the JDU top leadership after Kumar is perceived to be mostly from the upper caste when the party’s core vote bank is EBC. Jharkhand's lone JD(U) MLA Saryu Roy claimed that Kumar's foray into the Rajya Sabha was a "planned design" to sideline him from the CM's post.
Amidst the development, the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman has also fallen vacant, as the incumbent Harivansh’s tenure is ending next week and the JD(U) did not give a third term to him. All eyes will also be on whether or not the deputy chairman’s post goes to the JDU among the NDA.
Earlier in the day, Union home minister Amit Shah reached Patna and accompanied Kumar and other NDA’s Rajya Sabha candidates, including BJP president Nitin Nabin, who filed the papers at the office of Assembly secretary Khyati Singh.
Besides Kumar, Nabin and his party colleague Shivesh Kumar, JD(U)'s Ramnath Thakur and RLM's Upendra Kushwaha also filed nomination papers.
Shah praised Kumar's "spotless career" spanning over four decades and for ridding Bihar of "jungle raj". He hailed his tenure as the Bihar CM as "truly glorious" and said that Kumar’s tenure will be "written as a golden chapter in Bihar's history, shaping the entire gamut of Bihar's development".
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said Kumar's decision to enter the Rajya Sabha is a "betrayal" of the people's mandate. The Bihar Leader of the Opposition alleged the BJP has always been opposed to Dalits and OBCs, and with Kumar leaving the CM's post, it will seek to implement its agenda in the socialist stronghold.
The Congress called the development a "leadership coup and regime change orchestrated by 'G2'" and a "huge betrayal" of the mandate of the people.
Ever since reports regarding Kumar’s health started circulating in early 2024, there has been speculation regarding his exit from active politics. However, the buzz grew louder since last year’s Assembly polls when there were reports that the BJP intended to push for its candidate for the CM’s post. But even the BJP strategists knew that the NDA could suffer if the "Sushasan Babu" was not made the alliance’s face. The NDA bagged 202 of the 243 seats, with the BJP alone bagging 89 and the JDU 85 seats.
