Union Minister Dismisses Rumors of New Union Territory in Bihar and West Bengal

Union Minister Nityanand Rai has dismissed rumors suggesting that the central government plans to create a new Union Territory by separating districts from Bihar and West Bengal. He urged the public not to take such claims seriously, particularly those made by independent MP Pappu Yadav. Yadav had alleged that recent political moves, including Kumar's nomination to the Rajya Sabha and the appointment of a new governor, are part of a broader strategy by the BJP. This article delves into the details of these political developments and their implications for the region.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 7, 2026, 17:01 IST

Rumors of New Union Territory Denied

On Saturday, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai refuted claims circulating on social media regarding the central government's alleged plans to create a new Union Territory by separating districts from Bihar and West Bengal. In a post on the microblogging platform X, the former president of the Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) urged people not to take such news seriously. Rai stated in Hindi that the notion of forming a Union Territory by isolating certain districts from Bihar and West Bengal is entirely false. He tagged independent MP Rajesh Ranjan, also known as Pappu Yadav, in his post, emphasizing that Yadav's tweet should not be taken seriously.

Pappu Yadav, an independent MP supported by Congress, had claimed on Friday that sending Nitish Kumar to the Rajya Sabha and appointing retired Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain as the new governor of Bihar is part of the BJP's strategy to create a new Union Territory by separating the Muslim-majority districts of Malda, Murshidabad, and North Dinajpur from the Seemanchal region of Bihar. Similar assertions have been made by various social media accounts.

Nitish Kumar's Rajya Sabha Nomination and New Governor for Bihar

Earlier this week, Nitish Kumar, who has served as Bihar's Chief Minister for the longest period, submitted his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and leaders from the BJP and Janata Dal (United). Kumar expressed that it has always been his aspiration to be a member of both houses of Parliament and the Bihar Legislative Assembly since the beginning of his political career. He remarked, 'For over two decades, you have continuously placed your trust and support in me, and it is on this foundation of trust that we have served Bihar and all of you with utmost dedication. The strength of your faith and support has propelled Bihar to new heights of development and pride.'