PATNA – In a major shift for Bihar’s political landscape, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and BJP National President Nitin Nabin formally resigned from their respective seats in the state legislature on Monday. The move follows their election to the Rajya Sabha on March 16 and fulfills a constitutional requirement to vacate state seats within 14 days of being elected to Parliament.
Nitish Kumar, a member of the Bihar Legislative Council since 2006, submitted his resignation through JD(U) MLC Sanjay Kumar Singh. Council Chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh accepted the resignation, marking the end of Kumar’s two-decade tenure in the state’s upper house.
Transition to National Politics
By moving to the Rajya Sabha, Nitish Kumar joins a rare group of Indian politicians who have served in all four legislative bodies: the Bihar Legislative Assembly, the Lok Sabha, the Bihar Legislative Council, and now the Rajya Sabha.
While the resignation from the Council is official, Kumar will continue as Chief Minister for the time being. Under Article 164(4) of the Constitution, a person can remain in the post for up to six months without being a member of the state legislature. However, his transition to the national stage has sparked intense speculation about who will succeed him as the leader of the NDA government in Bihar.
Nitin Nabin Steps Down from Assembly
In a parallel development, BJP National President Nitin Nabin resigned from his Bankipur Assembly seat. Nabin, a five-term MLA, shared a heartfelt message with his constituents, reflecting on a 20-year journey that began in 2006 following the death of his father, also a legislator.
“I have always worked with dedication for the development of my area and Bihar,” Nabin stated, adding that he remains committed to the vision of a “Developed Bihar” in his new national role. His resignation was submitted by state BJP president Sanjay Saraogi to the Assembly Speaker.
The Race for Succession
With both leaders heading to the Upper House of Parliament, the focus in Patna has shifted to the future of the state government. Within the JD(U), some leaders have suggested Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, as a potential successor. Meanwhile, names like Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary and Union Minister Nityanand Rai are being discussed as top contenders from the BJP.
Senior BJP leaders are already holding meetings in Patna to deliberate on the transition, which many observers believe could result in Bihar seeing its first-ever Chief Minister from the BJP.
