Nitish Kumar to resign as Bihar MLC, paving way for BJP government

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to resign from his legislative council seat today, a move that could enable the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to assume control of the state government for the first time in 18 years, according to the Times of India. This resignation follows his election to the Rajya Sabha, with both Kumar and BJP state president Nitin Nabin expected to take oath as members on April 10, reports The Hindu.

Despite stepping down from his legislative council seat, Nitish Kumar, aged 75, will continue as Bihar's chief minister for approximately six more months, as reported by Hindustan Times. Meanwhile, BJP leaders are actively considering candidates for Kumar’s eventual successor, with deliberations ongoing amid uncertainty, according to multiple Hindustan Times articles.

Senior JD(U) figures have reportedly urged Nitish Kumar to remain engaged in Bihar politics, especially as Nitin Nabin postponed his resignation as an MLA at the last minute, suggesting strategic political recalibrations within the BJP, sources cited by The Hindu and Hindustan Times reveal. The delay in Nabin’s resignation may influence the timing and nature of the government transition.

Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal accused the BJP of deceiving Nitish Kumar and Bihar’s electorate by orchestrating the leadership change, highlighting tensions in the state’s political landscape, the Times of India reports. The transition is likely to impact governance and alliance structures in Bihar going forward.

As political leaders finalize the timing of resignations and appointments, the key development to watch is who the BJP selects as the next chief minister and how the JD(U) navigates its role within the evolving government. The outcomes will determine Bihar’s political alignment and policy direction in the coming years.