It’s settled that Nitish Kumar is the face of the Bihar NDA and will be Chief Minister: JD(U) working president Sanjay K. Jha

It’s a settled issue that Nitish Kumar is the face of the ruling National Democratic Alliance in Bihar and will remain Chief Minister of the State after the upcoming Assembly poll, Janata Dal (United) working president Sanjay K. Jha said on Saturday (September 20, 2025), speaking at The Hindu Mind, a conversation series featuring leading newsmakers. 

Mr. Jha’s remarks are in contrast to the Opposition situation in the State, with the Congress yet to unequivocally endorse RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, as the Mahagatbandhan’s CM nominee. 

The electoral strength of Mr. Kumar’s JD(U) has been in decline in recent years. The party has not been the single largest outfit in the Bihar Assembly since 2010. In the 2020 election, it slipped down to just 43 seats, trailing behind both the RJD and the BJP. In response to a query about this situation, Mr. Jha said, “In 2020, when we got 43 seats and BJP 71, Nitish ji told Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi that BJP could take the CM’s seat and JD(U) would join the government.” 

The BJP, however, took its time to come up with a response to Mr. Kumar’s suggestion, he said. “BJP said the elections were fought on Nitish ji’s face and he alone should be CM,” Mr. Jha recalled.

‘No anxiety’

A few months ago, the JD(U) had put up posters at its office in Patna, saying, “25 Se 30, Phir Se Nitish (2025-2030, Nitish Again)“. Mr. Jha was asked whether this poster reflected his party’s anxiety that even if the NDA wins, Mr. Kumar will not get the CM’s post or will not be allowed to complete a term. He said: “There’s no anxiety. It’s a settled issue—Nitish Kumar is the face of the alliance and will be Chief Minister.” He ruled out all speculation on Mr. Kumar’s health. “He’s perfectly fine,” Mr. Jha declared. 

He insisted that despite nearly two decades in power, there is “pro-incumbency” in favour of the JD(U) and Nitish Kumar. “We will win hands down in this election,” he said. 

Asked about data from the recent caste survey showing that 34% of households in Bihar earn ₹6,000 or less per month, Mr. Jha said that the first seven to eight years of Mr. Kumar’s tenure had been consumed in fixing basic issues such as roads and power. “Even post-COVID, Bihar reported double digit growth. Yes, we do need more investments. And things are changing in a big way,” he said, adding that the government is working towards reversing the migration of people out of the State. 

‘Seat-sharing will be amicable’

Neither the NDA nor the Mahagatbandhan have worked out any seat-sharing formula so far, with both sides having multiple claimants for the Assembly’s 243 seats. The JD(U) has asserted that it will contest the same number of seats as the BJP, to maintain their relationship at an equal keel. “I don’t think ther will be a problem,” Mr. Jha said. “Did you hear any murmur during the 2024 polls? Seat division was done amicably then and will be settled before October amicably again,” he added.  

Mr. Jha dismissed the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar as a non-issue in the upcoming Assembly election, claiming that no one in Bihar is complaining about it. “While electoral rolls are being revised in Bihar, protests are in Delhi. Have you seen voters in Bihar protesting about missing names? The Opposition has no ground support,” he said. 

The JD(U) leader said that Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party would not be able to dent the ruling alliance in the upcoming polls. “It’s just empty chatter from Delhi. Bihar will see a bipolar election. Those who vote will either back us or the Opposition,” he said.