Nitish Kumar Sworn In as Rajya Sabha Member, Initiating Leadership Transition in Bihar
In a significant political development, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took the oath as a Rajya Sabha member on Friday. The ceremony, administered by Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan in his chamber, marks a pivotal step toward the selection of a new chief minister and the formation of a fresh NDA government in Bihar, with the BJP poised to take the lead.
A Strategic Shift in National Politics
Nitish Kumar's entry into the Upper House is widely viewed as a calculated maneuver designed to elevate his role on the national stage alongside senior NDA figures. By joining the Rajya Sabha, he becomes part of an exclusive group of Bihar leaders, including his political adversary Lalu Prasad, who have served in all four legislative bodies: the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Bihar legislative assembly, and Bihar legislative council.
The oath-taking ceremony was conducted in Hindi and witnessed by a host of prominent leaders. Union Minister and Leader of the House J P Nadda, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Panchayati Raj Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ram Nath Thakur, and Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal were all in attendance.
Political Reactions and Congratulations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Nitish Kumar, hailing him as one of the nation's most seasoned leaders. In a post on X, Modi praised Kumar's unwavering commitment to good governance and his lasting contributions to Bihar's development.
Other notable figures present at the event included JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, Congress chief whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh, BJP MP and former Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy, and BJP chief whip in Lok Sabha Sanjay Jaiswal.
Following the oath, Nitish Kumar briefly reflected on his prior tenure as a Lok Sabha member and his experiences in the old Parliament building before departing Delhi for Patna to oversee the leadership transition.
Implications for Bihar's Political Landscape
With his Rajya Sabha membership secured, Nitish Kumar is expected to resign as chief minister within the next two to four days. Sources indicate that his resignation may occur on April 14, coinciding with a scheduled NDA legislature party meeting where his successor is likely to be finalized.
Congress MP Rajeev Shukla commented that Kumar's oath signifies the conclusion of the "Nitish Yug" in Bihar. Shukla alleged that this move is part of a long-term BJP strategy to showcase Nitish during the 2025 assembly elections before ultimately replacing him to claim the chief minister's position.
This development underscores a major realignment in Bihar's politics, as the NDA prepares to usher in a new administration under BJP leadership, while Nitish Kumar shifts his focus toward a broader national role.
