As Nitish Kumar eyes Rajya Sabha seat, political buzz over change in Bihar leadership mounts

With Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar himself confirming on social media on Thursday (March 5, 2026) that he “seeks to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time”, all eyes are now set on who would be the next Chief Minister of the State and what role Mr. Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar would play in the coming days in the State’s politics.

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Amid fast-changing political developments in the State, the buzz is that the next Chief Minister would be from Mr. Kumar’s ruling alliance party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

For the first time, the BJP would have its own Chief Minister in Bihar. Party sources, earlier, had told The Hindu that the Chief Minister from their party might be from Other Backward or Extremely Backward Class. However, some political leaders in Patna said on Thursday (March 5, 2026), preferring anonymity, that “for the time being, the next Chief Minister from their party may be a woman and that would be a ‘masterstroke’ of the top party leadership”.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar (49) is said to be the next Deputy Chief Minister of the State who would also run the party, Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)].

“The top party leadership is currently huddled inside Chief Minister’s official residence 1, Anne Marg to convince Nishant Kumar for his new political role,” a senior party leader said on condition of anonymity.

“Nishant Kumar would join the party today itself (March 5, 2026),” he added. A senior party leader and Union Minister is likely to accompany Nishant Kumar at the party headquarters on his joining occasion. A handful of party workers but posse of policemen have gathered outside JD-U party headquarters at Beerchand Patel Marg (road) in Patna, apparently to welcome Nishant Kumar into the party. It is believed that besides Nishant Kumar, there would be a second Deputy CM too in the new Cabinet.

Outside the gate of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s official residence, a small gathering of slogan-shouting party workers, along with a large posse of policemen and media persons have assembled.

The party workers bearing party flags in their hands have been raising “Nitish Kumar Zindabad” and “we’ll not let Nitish Kumar leave Bihar” slogans.

Senior policemen were seen going inside the police barricade and coming out of it. A few partymen, some considered close to Nitish Kumar, such as party MLC Sanjay Gandhi are seen surrounded by waiting media persons seeking to know what was happening inside the party. A few of the leaders were even seen being chased by media persons for a byte. A few of slogan-shouting JD(U) workers were also seen requesting media persons to broadcast their views so that their leader, Nitish Kumar, could hear them inside the official residence.

On the other hand, the party headquarters of the Opposition party Rashtriya Janata Dal, a few steps away from the JD(U) office, looks deserted with no vehicle parked outside. A few yards away, outside the BJP office a long queue of SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles) could be seen parked with party workers going inside and coming outside the office.

“Why should I not come here today, our party president Nitin Nabin will file nomination papers and Union Minister Amit Shah is coming to grace the occasion?”, said a low-rung BJP worker while rushing inside the party headquarters. However, tight security is in place, with several policemen deployed on duty outside gate of the Bihar Legislature, where the leaders would file their nomination papers for five Rajya Sabha seats sometime between 1:40 p.m. and 2 p.m.

A day after Holi (festival of colours), the streets of Patna also look deserted with very less number of vehicles and people seen on the roads. Schools and shops are closed, and only the security personnel, the JD(U), the BJP party workers could be seen moving on the roads.