As news of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s move to the Rajya Sabha spread on Thursday, a large group of Janata Dal (United) leaders and workers gathered at the party office and the chief minister’s residence in Patna, seeking clarity on the development that signals a turning point in state politics and leaves unanswered questions about a possible leadership vacuum in both the party and the state administration.
At the Prime Minister’s Residence No. 1 on Ann Marg in Patna, angry workers prevented some party legislators from entering the building. “People voted to see Nitish as the CM and not for him to go to the Rajya Sabha,” said JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Patel, who was leading a group of supporters.
Another JD(U) leader, requesting anonymity, said that in 2025, they sought to vote in Kumar’s name. “What will we tell them (workers) now?” asked the leader seeking clarification from JD(U) leaders within the party office.
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JD(U) MLC Sanjay Singh echoed these sentiments, saying if Nitish wanted to go to the Rajya Sabha, he would have briefed party workers himself. “There is complete confusion in the party and the workers are very angry,” Singh said.
Nitish, Bihar’s longest-serving chief minister, has dominated state politics for the majority of the last two decades. He filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, the last day to do so in the March 16 biennial elections.
Some senior leaders in the JD(U) saw the development in a more positive light, saying Nitish may shift his primary political role to New Delhi but is unlikely to break away from Bihar politics.
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“Nitish Kumar will remain in Delhi but will not give up Bihar,” said a senior JD(U) official requesting anonymity. “As long as his political power remains intact, he will continue to try to ensure the party’s survival.”
As Nitish moves into Parliament, a big question looms over who will carry his legacy forward. “We don’t know who will be our leader now. There is no clarity. I hope this issue will be discussed and finalized in the party,” MLC Singh said.
JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said the entire party was in favor of Nitish’s son Nishant’s entry into politics, but added that this is a decision that can only be taken by him or Nitish. “He is educated, his simplicity is eye-catching and his father has set high standards in politics with an impeccable record. Everything makes him the right choice for the JD(U) to take the legacy forward,” he added.
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A senior party leader, requesting anonymity, said: “While working closely with the BJP, the JD(U) will also need to maintain its identity and presence as an equal partner, as Nitish Kumar has maintained all along. The role of the party top leadership and invaluable guidance from Nitish Kumar will be crucial for a smooth transition, but it will not be easy in the changing situation.”
“JD(U) is an established party and has strength in the Assembly. Nitish Kumar cannot continue forever and what happened was bound to happen at some point,” said DM Diwakar, political analyst and former director of the AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies.
