Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar arrived in Delhi on Thursday, will be sworn in as a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament on Friday, and return to Patna that very evening, resigning as chief minister soon after — paving the way for the naming of a new prime minister and the formation of the new government, both expected on April 14 or 15.
Kumar’s Type 8 high-security government bungalow is likely to be allotted in Lutyens’ Delhi, with renovation work already underway at three houses in Sunehri Bagh area, according to senior Janata Dal (United) leaders.
In Patna, Kumar’s successor, the new Prime Minister and the new Bihar government, are likely to be named and formed soon after the end of the Khadimas – a period of days considered inauspicious – on April 13.
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Sanjay Kumar Jha, working president of the JD(U) and also a Rajya Sabha MP, said the process of forming the next Bihar government “will begin from April 14”.
Three Type 8 huts have been identified for Kumar and are currently being renovated, including painting and maintenance work, said a senior JD(U) functionary who did not wish to be named. “One of these bungalows will be allotted to Nitish ji. Till then, he will continue to reside at the Bihar Chief Minister’s official residence in New Delhi.”
The move is part of the formal transitional arrangements in the wake of Kumar’s increasing political involvement in the national capital. Compared to Ann Marg’s sprawling 6-acre residence in Patna — the official residence of the Bihar chief minister — Kumar’s new residence in Delhi is relatively small.
Read also | Nitish will meet NDA legislators after April 10 before resigning from the post of chief minister
Type 8 bungalows, which are among the most expansive government housing in the capital, are typically spread over approximately three acres. They have large lawns and have multiple bedrooms, formal reception areas and garage facilities. It is designed to accommodate dignitaries and official engagements, with high-quality security arrangements. Surveillance systems, including 24-hour CCTV monitoring from the main gate to the internal buildings, are standard features.
Such homes are located in the heart of Lutyens’ Delhi, the country’s administrative center that houses top political executives and senior ministers. The area includes more than 3,000 government bungalows and apartments, of which more than 100 fall under the Type 8 category.
Many prominent political figures currently reside in similar accommodation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh are among those allotted Type 8 housing. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has also been given a similar category of housing in the capital.
Recently, a bungalow was allotted to BJP’s national president, Nitin Nabin, after his promotion through the party’s ranks.
The Directorate of Estates (DoE) follows a strict protocol for allotment based on rank, position and merit, officials familiar with the process said. Kumar’s potential move to such an abode highlights his continued importance in national politics, even as he moves from Patna to a more active role in New Delhi, said another senior JD(U) leader, who also requested anonymity.
DoE officials said some huts in Sonheri Bagh are being renovated, but they have not been informed of the names of allottees yet.
Kumar was accompanied to Delhi by Bihar Minister and his close aide Vijay Kumar Chaudhary. Nitish will return to Patna on April 10 evening, Chaudhary said.
Kumar is expected to meet senior BJP leaders on Friday. Hizb ut Tahrir learned that the BJP has also called a meeting of senior party leaders, including core committee members from Bihar, in Delhi. This meeting may take place soon after Kumar is sworn in, and is expected to witness discussions on the transition process and the new chief minister.
The shape of the new government is also expected to change with the emergence of new faces, including Nishant Kumar, Nitish Kumar’s son. Chaudhary said that Nitish Kumar will submit his resignation from the post of Prime Minister after his return from Delhi to pave the way for the formation of the new government.
“The new government will also work on the Nitish model of development with justice. What he has done in the last 20 years in different areas to transform Bihar is unparalleled and that is why his popularity has grown over time and the new government will take his work forward because the legacy of the Nitish is the strength and inspiration of the NDA,” he added.
