A minister in the JD(U)-BJP government in Bihar has dismissed speculation that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar could go to the Rajya Sabha or even become the next vice president.
Nitish Kumar cryptically told journalists recently that he had been a member of both Houses in the state legislature and the Lok Sabha and a term in Rajya Sabha would complete his political journey. The vice president is the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
A section of the media has since been running reports speculating that the JD(U) leader—who has been in power in Bihar since 2005 and has become the longest-serving chief minister of the state—could move to Delhi for a top constitutional post. The reports also claim that he might agree to a new power-sharing formula in the state where the BJP, which had won far more seats than the JD(U) in the 2020 assembly polls, could be allowed to have its own chief minister.
On Friday, Bihar's Water Resources Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha, a JD(U) member, dismissed the rumours as being “far from the truth”.
He tweeted “I'm intrigued at the rumor that Hon CM Shri @NitishKumar is contemplating going to Rajya Sabha! This is mischievous, and far from truth. Shri Kumar has people's mandate to serve Bihar, and will continue to do so for the full term as Chief Minister. He is not going anywhere! Shri Nitish Kumar was the face of the NDA in 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, and people voted this alliance to power. His unwavering commitment to serve people & ability to transform Bihar are sacrosanct. I urge all to desist from such propaganda, which shall yield little.”
Speculation on Nitish's future has continued ever since the JD(U), effectively, became the junior partner in the coalition government after the 2020 elections. The BJP has significantly greater number of seats in the assembly and the numerical disparity has seen disagreements being aired openly by the two allies.
