Political speculation in Bihar reached a fever pitch as reports indicate that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha, marking a potential transition from state leadership to the national stage after a record 10 terms as head of the state government.
The development, which surfaced prominently in the last 48 hours, comes just days after Mr. Nitish Kumar celebrated his 75th birthday on March 1 and follows the NDA’s sweeping victory in the November 2025 assembly elections.
Multiple sources within the Janata Dal (United) and NDA circles confirmed that the veteran leader is set to submit his papers on Thursday, March 5, the final day for filing nominations ahead of the March 16 polling for five Bihar Rajya Sabha seats retiring in April.
If confirmed, Nitish Kumar’s move to the Upper House would represent his first-ever stint in the Rajya Sabha, ending a long career defined by assembly-level politics and repeated stints as Bihar’s Chief Minister. JD(U) insiders described the decision as part of a broader NDA recalibration, allowing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to stake a stronger claim to the chief ministership post-election.
Reports suggest the BJP could install one of its own leaders as the next CM, potentially reshaping power dynamics in the alliance that has governed Bihar since early 2024.
Adding another layer to the intrigue, Nitish Kumar’s only son, Nishant Kumar, an engineering graduate in his 40s, has received the green light to enter active politics. Earlier speculation focused on Nishant as a possible Rajya Sabha nominee or even a future deputy chief minister role.
However, the latest developments indicate the senior Kumar himself is the frontrunner for one of the JD(U)’s two expected seats, with Union Minister of State Ramnath Thakur (son of late Karpoori Thakur) already cleared for re-election.
A crucial JD(U) meeting at the residence of national working president Sanjay Jha in Patna on Wednesday saw key figures, including Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Vijay Chaudhary, and Ramnath Thakur, in attendance.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected in Patna soon, potentially to oversee the nomination process and finalise alliance arrangements. Four other NDA candidates, including BJP state president Nitin Nabin and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party’s Upendra Kushwaha, are also slated to file papers.
Not all voices in the NDA have endorsed the narrative. Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh dismissed the reports as a possible ‘Holi prank’, insisting Nitish Kumar remains firmly in the chief minister’s chair.
Opposition parties, including the RJD and Congress, have stayed largely silent, watching the internal NDA manoeuvring with interest.
The Rajya Sabha contest in Bihar is expected to see the NDA secure at least four seats comfortably, with the fifth potentially contested if opposition unity materialises among parties like BSP and AIMIM.
Mr. Nitish Kumar’s entry would bolster the alliance’s upper-house strength and provide him a platform for national influence, especially on issues like federalism, backward classes welfare, and infrastructure that were the hallmarks of his long tenure.