Patna, April 14: Nitish Kumar submitted his resignation as the Chief Minister of Bihar on Tuesday, ending a tenure that spanned nearly twenty years. The resignation followed a final Cabinet meeting in Patna where the veteran leader formally dissolved his government, paving the way for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to select a successor this afternoon.
The transition comes as Kumar shifts his focus to national politics, having recently taken his oath as a Rajya Sabha member on April 11. To comply with parliamentary regulations, he had previously vacated his seat in the Bihar Legislative Council on March 30. While he is expected to spend more time in Delhi for parliamentary sessions, party officials affirmed that he will continue to guide the state’s development.
“The new government will continue Nitish Ji’s policies and work under his guidance,” stated JDU working president Sanjay Kumar Jha. He maintained that even without the chief ministerial title, Kumar’s commitment to Bihar remains unchanged.
The process to name a new leader is already underway in the state capital. BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi affirmed that the party’s legislature group will meet at 3 PM to elect a leader in the presence of central observer Shivraj Singh Chouhan. This will be followed by a joint NDA meeting at 4 PM in the Central Hall of the Bihar Legislative Assembly to finalize the next Chief Minister.
While the BJP has yet to make an official announcement, speculation has centered on several prominent figures. Samrat Choudhary is currently viewed as a frontrunner, though names such as Nityanand Rai and Renu Devi have also been mentioned in leadership discussions. Reports suggest that the incoming administration may retain most of the current 36-member cabinet to ensure continuity in governance.
