Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, left, with his son Nishant Kumar. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
Amidst speculations over who would be the two leaders from the ruling NDA ally in Bihar, Janata Dal-United for the Rajya Sabha seats getting vacant on April 9 and for which nomination papers could be filed on March 5, senior JD-U leader Shrawan Kumar on Tuesday said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar would soon enter into active politics.
Earlier in the day, coalition partner BJP had announced the names of party president Nitin Nabin and Shivesh Kumar as two leaders for the Rajya Sabha seats.
Of the total 16 Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar, five seats are getting vacant on April 9. Two from JD-U: Harivansh Narayan Singh, who is also Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare Ram Nath Thakur, who is also the son of late Bihar Chief Minister and veteran socialist leader Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur, One from other ally Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha; and two from Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal, Prem Chand Gupta and Amarendra Dhari Singh.
March 5 is the last date for withdrawing names from the race, while the election will be held on March 16. The ruling NDA with their 202 MLAs in the State Assembly of a total 243-member could easily win four seats, while for the fifth, there is rife speculation, as both the NDA and the Opposition mahagathbandhan have announced they will contest it.
From the party JD-U, which have 85-MLAs names Nishant Kumar and Union Minister Mr. Ram Nath Thakur are likely to be filled. Name of RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha is also likely from the NDA side as the fifth nominee. JD-U might drop Mr Harivansh Narayan Singh this time from the possible list of leaders.
“We want to say on the occasion of Holi (festival of colours) that Nishant Ji is going to enter into active politics very soon. The wishes of the people of the state and youth who had been suggesting and demanding his joining politics will now be fulfilled,” said senior JD-U leader and Minister of the Rural Development Department in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cabinet, Shrawan Kumar, on March 3 to media persons.
Mr. Kumar is considered close to chief minister Nitish Kumar and has been a several-term party MLA from the Nalanda constituency, which is the home district of CM Nitish Kumar. Shrawan Kumar further extended his warm wishes to Nishant Kumar for his bright future and success in politics but did not reveal how he (Nishant Kumar) would make his entry into active politics. “The leaders of our party will decide the way in which he will join politics…there are several possibilities for him in the field. He is young and our leaders will take a decision on the basis of the popular demand,” said the Minister further.
Earlier, senior JD-U leaders Sanjay Jha, who is the party’s working president, Ashok Choudhary, who is the Rural Works Department Minister in Nitish Kumar cabinet and others too had demanded in public that Nishant Kumar should enter into active politics.
Posters of Nishant Kumar demanding him to join active politics too had earlier adorned walls of the JD-U state headquarters in Patna. “Nishant Kumar is an educated man and has studied engineering. The rank and file of the party want him to enter into active politics and the announcement of it will make the entire JD-U family happy,” Mr. Choudhary had said.
The alliance partner BJP too has welcomed the decision of JD-U for Nishant Kumar’s entry into active politics. “We’re happy over the decision and welcome Nishant Kumar into active politics. We extend our best wishes and will support him in his endeavour,” said senior state BJP leader and state Industries minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal. Mr Jaiswal is also a former State president of the BJP.
In the 2025 State Assembly elections, NDA had won 202 seats, while the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal won 25, Congress 6, Communist Party of India (Marxists-Leninist) 2, Communist Party of India (Marxist) 1, All India Majlish-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) 5, Bahujan Samaj Party 1 and Indian Inclusive Party of party chief I. P. Gupta 1.
In the total 243-member State Assembly, a candidate needs support of 41 MLAs to bag a Rajya Sabha seat. The NDA needs the support of three more MLAs and the Opposition RJD needs the support of six legislators to bag the fifth seat.
Published – March 04, 2026 07:18 am IST
