Nitish Kumar set for Rajya Sabha oath as National Democratic Alliance prepares leadership decision
April 5, 2026: The process of forming a new government in Bihar is expected to begin after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar takes oath as a Rajya Sabha member on April 10, according to state BJP president Sanjay Saraogi. Kumar, who recently resigned from the legislative council, is likely to attend a cabinet meeting on April 9—possibly his last as chief minister—before leaving for Delhi. Following his oath, the central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the National Democratic Alliance will initiate the process of selecting the next leader.
The NDA currently holds a strong majority in the 243-member Bihar Assembly, with the BJP having 88 seats and the Janata Dal (United), led by Nitish Kumar, holding 85. His move to the Rajya Sabha signals a significant political shift in the state, raising expectations that the BJP could appoint its first chief minister in Bihar. However, there has been no official announcement regarding his successor so far.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha downplayed speculation around the leadership change, stating that the NDA government will continue smoothly. He emphasised that the decision on the next chief minister will be taken at the appropriate time once the position formally becomes vacant, indicating that the transition process will follow established procedures without haste.