All eyes will be on the final day of filing of nominations for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections on Thursday in Patna amid speculation that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may file his papers for the Senate elections.
People familiar with the developments indicated that Kumar, 75, may move to the Senate, just months after achieving a historic victory in the Assembly elections. Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar, who is set to join the Janata Dal (United) on Thursday, may be made deputy chief minister, the people cited above said. If Kumar moves to the Rajya Sabha, his successor could be from the BJP, the people cited above added.
“Nitish Kumar is likely to submit his papers on Thursday. This is almost final,” said a JD(U) MLC, requesting anonymity.
It is certain that the party has not issued any official announcement. The party can win two Rajya Sabha seats on its own and help the NDA candidate bag another seat. The party did not announce the name of any candidate for the elections.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh refuted these speculations. “Such jokes are common on Holi. Nitish Kumar ji is our Prime Minister,” Singh told ANI.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and JD(U) leader Lalan Singh will arrive in Patna to file nomination on Friday. BJP president Nitin Nabin is among the party’s candidates.
JD(U) MLC Sanjay Gandhi said that Kumar’s decision on whether he wants to enter Rajya Sabha will be his.
He said, “The Prime Minister will decide for himself… We held a meeting to strengthen the organization in light of opinion polls…”
Senior JD(U) leaders, including National Working President Sanjay Jha, senior ministers Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Bijendra Yadav and Ashok Chaudhary, held long meetings with the Prime Minister at his official residence, 1 Ani Marg. This was followed by another round of meeting between Jha and Vijay Choudhary, later in the evening. Union Minister Ramnath Thakur also joined the meeting, according to the people cited above. Some JD(U) leaders reacted negatively to speculation about Kumar’s possible move. He should stay in Bihar,” said a JD(U) legislator.
JD(U) leaders said preparations for Kumar’s Rajya Sabha nomination are almost complete. They added that nomination papers have been prepared and only require the Prime Minister’s signature.
Kumar was previously a member of the Bihar Assembly, Bihar Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha.
