Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced his candidature for the Rajya Sabha as a Janata Dal (United) nominee, marking the end of an era in the heartland state. Kumar, 75, filed his papers for the March 16 Upper House polls, flanked by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and JD(U) leaders in Patna.
The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) commands a brute majority of 202 in the 243-member assembly and is comfortably placed to ensure Kumar's victory. However, his unprecedented transition to the Rajya Sabha creates a vacuum in state politics, which has been dominated by Kumar and former CM Lalu Prasad since 1990.
Kumar's son Nishant Kumar, who is likely to join the JD(U), may be accommodated in the state cabinet and even elevated to Deputy Chief Minister, said a senior JD(U) leader. The BJP is expected to choose Kumar's successor, with Union Minister Nityanand Rai and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhury being frontrunners.
Kumar expressed gratitude to the people of Bihar for trusting him for over 20 years, saying their support enabled him to serve the state with dedication. He reassured people that his relationship with them would remain unchanged despite the move and would continue working with the people to fulfill the goal of building a developed Bihar.
