Major Political Shift in Bihar: Nitish Kumar to File Rajya Sabha Nomination
Political Developments in Bihar
Significant news is emerging from Bihar's political landscape. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to submit his nomination for the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Reports indicate that he will file his nomination at 11:30 AM. Central Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to be present during this event, signaling a potential change in leadership in Bihar. It appears that Nitish Kumar may resign from his position as Chief Minister, marking a pivotal moment in the state's politics. For the past two decades, Kumar has been at the helm of Bihar's governance, but this will be the first instance where he transitions to the Rajya Sabha after stepping down from his role. This development is also promising for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which may soon appoint its own Chief Minister in Bihar. However, no official names have been disclosed yet, but Shah's visit to Patna suggests significant political maneuvers are underway.
Potential Changes in Leadership
If Nitish Kumar proceeds to the Rajya Sabha, his son Nishant Kumar could be appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar. Reports also suggest that Nishant Kumar may join the Janata Dal (United) party on the same day. Amit Shah's visit to Patna is in connection with a nomination event for the BJP's national president Nitin Nabin, who is being fielded as a candidate from Bihar. This visit follows the BJP's release of its first list of candidates for the upcoming biennial Rajya Sabha elections, which includes nine names from six states, as announced by the party's central election committee from its headquarters in New Delhi.
BJP's Candidate Selections
From Bihar, the BJP has selected Nitin Nabin and Shivesh Kumar as candidates. In Assam, Teshar Gowala and Jogen Mohan have been nominated, while Lakshmi Verma will contest from Chhattisgarh. Sanjay Bhatia is the candidate from Haryana. In Odisha, Manmohan Samal and Sujit Kumar will represent the party, and Rahul Sinha has been chosen from West Bengal. Earlier today, the BJP announced four candidates for the upcoming biennial Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra, including Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde, among others.
Upcoming Election Schedule
Ramdas Athawale, the president of the Republican Party of India and a central minister, is poised for another term in the Rajya Sabha, while Vinod Tawde is making his first attempt to enter the upper house. Ramrao Wadkute and Maya Chitman Iwante have also been selected as candidates. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India has announced that voting for the upcoming biennial Rajya Sabha elections will take place on March 16, with counting starting at 5 PM on the same day and concluding by March 20.
Election Details
These elections will cover 37 seats across ten states, including Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana, with the current terms expiring in April 2026. The notification to initiate the election process was issued on February 26, with the final date for nominations set for March 5, scrutiny of nomination papers on March 6, and the last date for withdrawal of nominations on March 9.