On April 10, 2026, Nitish Kumar, the longest-serving Chief Minister of Bihar, took his oath as a Rajya Sabha member, marking a significant milestone in his political journey. This development sets the stage for the formation of a new government in Bihar, and speculation has already begun on who will be the next Chief Minister. The oath-taking ceremony was attended by prominent political figures, including Bihar's Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Sinha and Samrat Choudhary, BJP president JP Nadda, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Nitish Kumar, who resigned from the Bihar Legislative Council on March 30, after being elected to the Rajya Sabha in early March, has now paved the way for the NDA to select a new leader to lead Bihar. The NDA leadership is expected to elect a new Chief Minister on April 14, though no official announcements have been made yet. Speculation is rife about potential candidates for the position, and several names are being discussed in political circles.
Among the frontrunners is Nitish Kumar's son, who has not been politically active but could emerge as a strong contender. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is also seen as a likely candidate, given his prominence within the NDA and his role in state politics. Another possible contender is Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, who is believed to have close ties with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Nitish Kumar's political career has been marked by frequent shifts in alliances, alternating between the BJP and Mahagathbandhan (RJD and Congress). Despite these political realignments, his ability to maintain a foothold in Bihar's leadership has been remarkable, having secured a fifth consecutive electoral victory in 2025.
As Bihar waits for the official announcement of its next Chief Minister, the political landscape remains dynamic, with several figures poised to take on the state's top leadership role. With Nitish Kumar’s departure from the state-level leadership, it will be interesting to see who emerges as the new face of Bihar in the coming days.
