What is the story about?
In Bihar, a new era may be on the horizon. This comes after Nitish Kumar has stepped down as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC).
The development comes after Nitish won election to the Rajya Sabha. Nitish, the long-time leader of Bihar, remains Chief Minister for now. However, the development has set off fresh speculation about Nitish’s future and who could possibly replace him as Chief Minister of Bihar.
But what do we know? Who could replace him? And what next for Nitish?
Let’s take a closer look.
As per The Hindu, Nitish’s letter of resignation was submitted by JD-U MLC Sanjay Gandhi and accepted by Council Chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh. Nitish was elected to the Rajya Sabha in the March 16 election. He had filed nomination papers in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“From the very beginning of my parliamentary journey, there has been a desire in my heart to become a member of both Houses of the Bihar Legislature as well as both Houses of Parliament,” Nitish wrote on social media.
“I want to assure you with complete honesty that my relationship with you will continue in the future as well, and my resolve to work together with you to build a developed Bihar will remain steadfast. The new government that will be formed will have my full cooperation and guidance,” he continued.
Nitish had been serving in Bihar’s Legislative Council since 2006. He was elected to a fourth straight term in May 2024. He was slated to serve in the Legislative Council till 2030. Nitish has been a member of the Bihar Assembly, the Lok Sabha, and the Legislative Council. His first stint in the Rajya Sabha puts Nitish in the company of a handful of leaders who have served in all these bodies.
Nitish is now required to step down as Bihar Chief Minister. Under the provisions of the Constitution, an individual can remain Chief Minister for six months if he or she is not a member of either House in the state legislature.
The Hindu quoted Bihar Rural Development Minister Sharwan Kumar as saying in March, “One has to resign within 14 days as a member of either House of the State legislature [after being elected as an MP]. He can resign within the stipulated time frame but can remain the Chief Minister of Bihar for the next six months as per provisions of the Constitution.”
It remains to be seen what Nitish will do next. After all, he has been Chief Minister of Bihar almost continuously since 2005. He has served as Chief Minister of Bihar on no less than 10 occasions. In the recent November 2025 elections, the National Democratic Alliance, led by Nitish, achieved a massive victory with 202 seats.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single-largest party with 89 seats, while Janata Dal (JD(U)) secured 85 seats, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) - LJP(RV) got 19 seats, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) - HAM(S) won 5 seats, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) bagged 4 seats.
The opposition Mahagathbandhan, meanwhile, suffered a heavy defeat, managing only 35 seats in total. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) won 25 seats, the Indian National Congress (INC) secured 6 seats, while smaller parties and others, including AIMIM (5 seats), CPI(ML)L (2 seats), and a few Independents or minor outfits, accounted for the remaining seats.
Sources told News18 Nitish plans to keep Patna as his primary political base and that he will travel to Delhifor Parliament sessions. Nitish has also told the party he will remain “guiding force" of Bihar politics for years to come. There are also no hints that Nitish will join the Union Cabinet.
That remains to be seen.
As per The Hindu, a number of senior leaders of Nitish’s Janata Dal (United) party rushed to his official residence in Patna to hold closed-door meetings hours before his resignation. This comes as some from the party are urging Nitish to remain in Bihar.
Sanjay Kumar Jha, Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Bijendra Yadav and Ashok Choudhary were among the senior leaders who met Nitish at his official residence, as per The Indian Express. All eyes are on Nitish’s son Nishant Kumar, who has entered politics relatively late.
A piece in ET Edge noted that it is possible that Bihar will get its first-ever BJP Chief Minister. It name-checked Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary of the BJP as a possible candidate.
Sources told News18 that Nitish will step down as chief minister only after he is sworn into the Rajya Sabha.
A piece in The Indian Express, noting how highly Nitish prized the Chief Ministership of Bihar and how he stuck to it for over two decades, called the development ‘baffling to many’.
The piece said some think the timing of the move has as much to do with developments in West Asia as the situation in Bihar itself.
“The Prime Minister’s visit to Israel just days before the conflict began, New Delhi’s initial silence on the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which was later mitigated to an extent by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri signing the condolence book at the Iranian Embassy, and the sinking of an Iranian ship in international waters in what India considers its sphere of influence were signs of the challenge the government faced,” the piece noted.
“By getting Nitish to call it quits in Bihar, the BJP has ensured that its ally is not likely to get split over the issue of succession, as the outgoing CM appears to have agreed to the installation of his son Nishant as a Deputy CM,” the piece added.
A piece in ET Edge contended that the 75-year-old may be looking for a platform on which he can continue to
contribute to national policy on issues he is synonymous with, such as social justice, OBC empowerment, and rural development. “The Rajya Sabha, with its focus on national legislation and policy, offers him precisely that,” the piece argued.
It also focused on the possibilities for Bihar.
“The NDA’s commanding majority provides political stability, but the state faces substantial developmental challenges: high unemployment among youth, persistent migration to other states, insufficient industrial investment, and gaps in healthcare and higher education. The new Chief Minister will need to articulate a fresh vision that can capture Bihar’s aspirations while managing the complex caste arithmetic and coalition dynamics that define the state’s politics,” the piece contended.
1) Why did Nitish Kumar resign as a Bihar MLC?
Nitish Kumar resigned as a Member of the Legislative Council after being elected to the Rajya Sabha. Under the rules, he cannot simultaneously remain a member of both Parliament and the state legislature, necessitating his resignation from the Bihar MLC post.
2) Can Nitish Kumar continue as Chief Minister after stepping down?
Yes, but only temporarily. As per constitutional provisions, Nitish Kumar can remain Chief Minister for up to six months without being a member of either House of the state legislature. Within this period, he must get elected to either the Bihar Assembly or Legislative Council to continue in the role.
3) Who are the likely candidates to replace Nitish Kumar?
Several names are being discussed, including senior JD(U) leaders and BJP figures such as Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. There is also speculation around Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, although no official decision has been made yet.
With inputs from agencies
The development comes after Nitish won election to the Rajya Sabha. Nitish, the long-time leader of Bihar, remains Chief Minister for now. However, the development has set off fresh speculation about Nitish’s future and who could possibly replace him as Chief Minister of Bihar.
But what do we know? Who could replace him? And what next for Nitish?
Let’s take a closer look.
What we know
As per The Hindu, Nitish’s letter of resignation was submitted by JD-U MLC Sanjay Gandhi and accepted by Council Chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh. Nitish was elected to the Rajya Sabha in the March 16 election. He had filed nomination papers in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“From the very beginning of my parliamentary journey, there has been a desire in my heart to become a member of both Houses of the Bihar Legislature as well as both Houses of Parliament,” Nitish wrote on social media.
“I want to assure you with complete honesty that my relationship with you will continue in the future as well, and my resolve to work together with you to build a developed Bihar will remain steadfast. The new government that will be formed will have my full cooperation and guidance,” he continued.
Nitish had been serving in Bihar’s Legislative Council since 2006. He was elected to a fourth straight term in May 2024. He was slated to serve in the Legislative Council till 2030. Nitish has been a member of the Bihar Assembly, the Lok Sabha, and the Legislative Council. His first stint in the Rajya Sabha puts Nitish in the company of a handful of leaders who have served in all these bodies.
What next for Nitish
Nitish is now required to step down as Bihar Chief Minister. Under the provisions of the Constitution, an individual can remain Chief Minister for six months if he or she is not a member of either House in the state legislature.
The Hindu quoted Bihar Rural Development Minister Sharwan Kumar as saying in March, “One has to resign within 14 days as a member of either House of the State legislature [after being elected as an MP]. He can resign within the stipulated time frame but can remain the Chief Minister of Bihar for the next six months as per provisions of the Constitution.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. PTI
It remains to be seen what Nitish will do next. After all, he has been Chief Minister of Bihar almost continuously since 2005. He has served as Chief Minister of Bihar on no less than 10 occasions. In the recent November 2025 elections, the National Democratic Alliance, led by Nitish, achieved a massive victory with 202 seats.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single-largest party with 89 seats, while Janata Dal (JD(U)) secured 85 seats, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) - LJP(RV) got 19 seats, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) - HAM(S) won 5 seats, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) bagged 4 seats.
The opposition Mahagathbandhan, meanwhile, suffered a heavy defeat, managing only 35 seats in total. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) won 25 seats, the Indian National Congress (INC) secured 6 seats, while smaller parties and others, including AIMIM (5 seats), CPI(ML)L (2 seats), and a few Independents or minor outfits, accounted for the remaining seats.
Sources told News18 Nitish plans to keep Patna as his primary political base and that he will travel to Delhifor Parliament sessions. Nitish has also told the party he will remain “guiding force" of Bihar politics for years to come. There are also no hints that Nitish will join the Union Cabinet.
Who could replace him
That remains to be seen.
As per The Hindu, a number of senior leaders of Nitish’s Janata Dal (United) party rushed to his official residence in Patna to hold closed-door meetings hours before his resignation. This comes as some from the party are urging Nitish to remain in Bihar.
Sanjay Kumar Jha, Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Bijendra Yadav and Ashok Choudhary were among the senior leaders who met Nitish at his official residence, as per The Indian Express. All eyes are on Nitish’s son Nishant Kumar, who has entered politics relatively late.
JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha in New Delhi. PTI
A piece in ET Edge noted that it is possible that Bihar will get its first-ever BJP Chief Minister. It name-checked Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary of the BJP as a possible candidate.
Sources told News18 that Nitish will step down as chief minister only after he is sworn into the Rajya Sabha.
What do experts think?
A piece in The Indian Express, noting how highly Nitish prized the Chief Ministership of Bihar and how he stuck to it for over two decades, called the development ‘baffling to many’.
The piece said some think the timing of the move has as much to do with developments in West Asia as the situation in Bihar itself.
“The Prime Minister’s visit to Israel just days before the conflict began, New Delhi’s initial silence on the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which was later mitigated to an extent by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri signing the condolence book at the Iranian Embassy, and the sinking of an Iranian ship in international waters in what India considers its sphere of influence were signs of the challenge the government faced,” the piece noted.
“By getting Nitish to call it quits in Bihar, the BJP has ensured that its ally is not likely to get split over the issue of succession, as the outgoing CM appears to have agreed to the installation of his son Nishant as a Deputy CM,” the piece added.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, right, greets his son Nishant Kumar as he joins the Janata Dal (United) JD(U) in Patna, Bihar. PTI
A piece in ET Edge contended that the 75-year-old may be looking for a platform on which he can continue to
contribute to national policy on issues he is synonymous with, such as social justice, OBC empowerment, and rural development. “The Rajya Sabha, with its focus on national legislation and policy, offers him precisely that,” the piece argued.
It also focused on the possibilities for Bihar.
“The NDA’s commanding majority provides political stability, but the state faces substantial developmental challenges: high unemployment among youth, persistent migration to other states, insufficient industrial investment, and gaps in healthcare and higher education. The new Chief Minister will need to articulate a fresh vision that can capture Bihar’s aspirations while managing the complex caste arithmetic and coalition dynamics that define the state’s politics,” the piece contended.
FAQs
1) Why did Nitish Kumar resign as a Bihar MLC?
Nitish Kumar resigned as a Member of the Legislative Council after being elected to the Rajya Sabha. Under the rules, he cannot simultaneously remain a member of both Parliament and the state legislature, necessitating his resignation from the Bihar MLC post.
2) Can Nitish Kumar continue as Chief Minister after stepping down?
Yes, but only temporarily. As per constitutional provisions, Nitish Kumar can remain Chief Minister for up to six months without being a member of either House of the state legislature. Within this period, he must get elected to either the Bihar Assembly or Legislative Council to continue in the role.
3) Who are the likely candidates to replace Nitish Kumar?
Several names are being discussed, including senior JD(U) leaders and BJP figures such as Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. There is also speculation around Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, although no official decision has been made yet.
With inputs from agencies
