Patna, Mar 7: A fresh political row erupted in Bihar on Saturday after RJD leader and former chief minister Rabri Devi alleged that the BJP is forcing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar out of state politics by pushing him to the Rajya Sabha.
Speaking to reporters, Rabri Devi claimed that Nitish Kumar’s move to the Upper House was not a voluntary decision but a calculated strategy by the BJP to capture the chief minister’s post in Bihar. “The BJP is driving Nitish Kumar out of Bihar. He has lost his mind. Nitish Kumar should not leave Bihar,” she said.
Her remarks came days after Nitish Kumar filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha in Patna in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Other NDA nominees, including Upendra Kushwaha and Bihar BJP chief Nitin Nabin, also submitted their papers for the upcoming election.
Defending his decision, Nitish Kumar said he intends to serve in the Rajya Sabha while continuing to support the state’s governance. “I seek to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time. The new government that will be formed will have my full cooperation and guidance,” he said in a post on social media.
The biennial elections to fill 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, including Bihar, are scheduled for March 16, with counting to be held the same day.
Meanwhile, the political transition appears to be triggering a generational shift within the JD(U). Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar is expected to formally join the party soon and has already held discussions with senior leaders and MLAs at the residence of JD(U) national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha.
Sources within the ruling alliance said there is speculation that Nishant Kumar could be considered for a major role in the party or even for the post of deputy chief minister in a future NDA government.
The development comes at a time when the terms of 37 Rajya Sabha members from several states, including Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha and West Bengal, are set to end in April, paving the way for the election of new members to the Upper House.
