Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister walked into Parliament today — not as a state leader, but as a Member of the Upper House. At around 12:15 pm, Nitish Kumar formally took oath as a Rajya Sabha MP, marking the beginning of a new political innings at the national level for a leader who has spent nearly two decades at the centre of Bihar's politics.
It is the end of an era for Patna. And it is the beginning of something new — for Nitish Kumar, for Bihar, and possibly for national coalition politics.
The Janata Dal (United) leader was sworn in at the Upper House in New Delhi after being elected unopposed in the recent Rajya Sabha polls. Prior to this, he resigned from the Bihar Legislative Council in compliance with constitutional norms that prohibit dual membership. With this move, Nitish Kumar is now expected to return to Patna and step down as Chief Minister, effectively bringing an end to his long-standing tenure at the helm of the state.
Having dominated Bihar’s political landscape for nearly two decades and served multiple terms as Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar’s shift to Parliament is being seen as a carefully planned leadership transition. The development is likely to pave the way for a new face to lead the state, with the ruling NDA expected to take a decision on his successor soon. His entry into the Rajya Sabha also marks a return to national politics, where he previously served as a Union Minister. Political observers believe his presence in Parliament will strengthen Janata Dal United’s role in national decision-making and coalition dynamics, even as Bihar prepares for a new chapter in its leadership.
How It Came to This
Nitish Kumar was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha on March 16, in the biennial elections held for five seats from Bihar. The current terms of the outgoing members ended on April 9, after which Kumar formally assumed office.
After his Rajya Sabha election, Kumar resigned as a member of the Bihar Legislative Council on March 30, setting in motion the formal transition process. He flew from Patna to Delhi on April 9. Sanjay Jha, the JD(U)'s national working president, was at Patna airport to send him off and told the media the oath would be taken at approximately 12:15 pm on April 10.
Nitish Kumar's swearing-in takes place ahead of other newly elected MPs from Bihar. A second round of oath-taking is scheduled for April 16, when newly elected Rajya Sabha MPs including BJP leaders Nitin Naveen and Sivesh Kumar, along with Upendra Kushwaha of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, will be sworn in.
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What Happens in Bihar Now?
This is the question everyone in Patna is asking. Nitish Kumar has been Chief Minister of Bihar for most of the last two decades, with brief interruptions. He is arguably the most dominant figure in the state's modern political history, having won the trust of both upper-caste and extremely backward class (EBC) voters while also keeping Muslims on board for much of his tenure.
Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary confirmed that after Nitish Kumar takes the Rajya Sabha oath, he will step down as Chief Minister, paving the way for a new government. After his resignation, all constituent parties of the National Democratic Alliance will hold a meeting to finalise the next Chief Minister and government structure.
After returning to Patna on April 11, Kumar is expected to resign as Chief Minister at any time after April 13. Political developments are likely to gather pace after April 14, when the Kharmas period — an inauspicious one-month period in Hindu astrology — concludes.
The BJP is meeting in Delhi today, April 10, specifically to discuss the Bihar government formation. Sources say the new Chief Minister could well come from the BJP — which would be a first. Bihar has never had a BJP Chief Minister; the party has always governed in alliance with JD(U), with the CM post going to Nitish Kumar.
Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary is considered a frontrunner for the Chief Minister post. Choudhary is a Koeri (EBC) leader with grassroots support and is seen as both acceptable to Nitish's JD(U) and capable of holding the NDA alliance together. But nothing is confirmed — the BJP plays its cards close to its chest, and Amit Shah will likely have the final say.
The Security Arrangement: Even Out of Power, He Is Protected
One telling detail: the Bihar Home Department has issued orders confirming that Nitish Kumar will continue to receive Z-Plus category security even after stepping down as Chief Minister. His security cover will remain intact upon assuming office as a Rajya Sabha member.
That kind of security arrangement for a former CM signals both the perceived threat environment and the political weight that Nitish Kumar still carries.
What This Means for National Politics
Nitish Kumar entering the Rajya Sabha is not retirement. He is 74 years old, not historically old for Indian politics, and he has a track record of reinvention that would make most politicians envious. He has been in and out of alliance with BJP multiple times. He supported BJP, left BJP, came back to BJP. Each time, he calculated the moment.
His entry into the Upper House gives him a national platform, access to central policymaking, and proximity to the Prime Minister and Home Minister. After his arrival in Delhi, he is likely to meet key central figures including the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, which signals the political importance of this transition.
Amit Shah recently said, "Nitish Kumar returning to national politics as Rajya Sabha MP" — phrasing that sounded like a public acknowledgment of his new role in the NDA's national architecture.
For Bihar, the next two weeks will be about who takes the CM chair. For Nitish Kumar, the next chapter is about what he does with the national stage he has just stepped onto.