From 10-time CM to Rajya Sabha, Nitish Kumar’s move reshapes Bihar’s political equation

Bihar's political scene has heated up amid speculation about Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Rajya Sabha candidacy. His party, the Janata Dal United (JDU), is in considerable turmoil. Rebellion is emerging within the party on this issue. Party workers raised slogans in support of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar outside the Chief Minister's residence on Thursday. They say that if Nitish Kumar is to be replaced, then hold elections again. Party leader Rajiv Ranjan Patel said that they will not allow Nitish Kumar to file his nomination. Meanwhile, Nishant Kumar is set to join the JDU today.

The atmosphere in the capital, Patna, has been building since Thursday morning. Amid speculation about Nitish Kumar's Rajya Sabha candidacy, resentment has risen significantly within the JDU. Party workers are angry. Hundreds of them are protesting outside the Chief Minister's residence. They allege that Delhi is conspiring against Nitish. Meanwhile, Nitish's son, Nishant Kumar, will enter politics today and join the party. National Executive President Sanjay Jha will induct Nishant into the party at 10:30 a.m. at the JDU office.

"We gave our blood and sweat for Nitish"

Party workers, led by JDU leader Rajiv Ranjan Patel, raised slogans in support of Nitish outside the Chief Minister's residence. Regarding the possibility of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar filing his Rajya Sabha nomination, JDU leader Rajiv Ranjan Patel said, "Yesterday, we learned from the news that Nitish Kumar will be contesting the Rajya Sabha. Knowing this, no JDU leader celebrated Holi. Our Holi has been ruined." He further said, "We want Nitish Kumar as the Chief Minister of Bihar at all costs.

#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: JDU leader Rajeev Ranjan Patel and party supporters raised slogans in support of Nitish Kumar outside the residence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

JDU leader Rajeev Ranjan Patel says, "We only want to see Nitish Kumar as the CM of Bihar. We are against… pic.twitter.com/7ydPVjZ1qs

— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2026

The people of the state, the workers, have given their majority to make Nitish Kumar the Chief Minister, not to have him step down midway through his term. We don't want the reins of Bihar to fall into anyone else's hands."

JDU leader Rajiv Ranjan Patel expressed displeasure over the party's decision, saying, "Nishant Kumar (Nitish Kumar's son) should be sent to the Rajya Sabha, but Nitish Kumar should remain the Chief Minister of Bihar. The people of Bihar are crying, thousands of workers are crying today.

#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: A JD(U) worker, Krishna Patel, says, "Conspiracies are being hatched against Nitish Kumar. The people of Bihar have elected him as the Chief Minister from 2025 to 2030. What is the compulsion to send him to the Rajya Sabha? He will remain the Chief… https://t.co/IY1gvwO2vR pic.twitter.com/Hwr9GRmZwR

— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2026

Everyone went door to door asking for votes for Nitish, not anyone else. Today, Nitish will step down, and no one asked the workers.

...So why contest the election in Nitish's name? Patel

He said, "If a decision was to be made, the workers should have been called first and consulted. No one can decide to remove Nitish Kumar. If that were the case, why contest the election in Nitish's name? Hundreds of women and workers have called us. They are crying." Nitish Kumar's health is fine, nothing has happened to him. The public has voted for him, so the public should be asked about this."

Demanding elections in the event that someone else is appointed CM in Nitish's place, Rajiv Ranjan Patel said, "If Nitish Kumar is no longer the Chief Minister, where will the people of Bihar go? Hold elections today and appoint whoever you want as Chief Minister. The workers' demand is that if someone wants to replace the Chief Minister, feels they have the power to change the leadership, that their face has that much power, then they should hold elections and win a majority. We will not comment on this issue."

Can't override the party's decision: Sanjay Singh

Regarding the issue of not allowing Nitish Kumar to file his nomination, the JDU leader said, "We will remain here and will not allow him (Nitish Kumar) to file his nomination. Nishant Kumar will file his nomination, but we will not allow Nitish Kumar to file his nomination."