Nitish Kumar resigns as Bihar Chief Minister; BJP announces new CM

PATNA: JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar has stepped down as the Chief Minister of Bihar, marking the end of an era in the state's politics. His resignation came shortly after he took the oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha. Following a cabinet meeting, Nitish Kumar met the Governor at Lok Bhavan and formally submitted his resignation.

Current Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary will be the new Chief Minister of the state. His name was officially announced after an NDA meeting held on Tuesday evening. The swearing-in ceremony will take place on Wednesday evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the event. There had been earlier indications that a leader from the OBC community would be chosen as the next Chief Minister in Bihar.

Although there were speculations that Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, might take over the post, the decision reflected a long-standing preference within the BJP for a party leader to assume the Chief Minister’s position. After becoming a Rajya Sabha member, Nitish Kumar is likely to be considered for a key portfolio in the Union Cabinet. JD(U) leadership said that even though Nitish Kumar has stepped down, the new government in Bihar will continue to follow his policies.

Nitish Kumar, who also serves as the president of JD(U), has held the Chief Minister’s post ten times. He was recently elected to the Rajya Sabha and had earlier stated that joining the Upper House was a long-held wish.