A number of JD(U) leaders confirmed that Nitish was “all set” to go to the Rajya Sabha, however added in the identical breath that nothing was remaining till they heard from Nitish late Wednesday night time or early Thursday.

Union House Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled go to to Bihar on Thursday has additional intensified the hypothesis, though Bihar BJP leaders instructed ThePrint that BJP nationwide president Nitin Nabin could be submitting his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha on Thursday and that Shah could possibly be coming for it.

The BJP has been eager on a change of guard in Bihar as early as attainable. Final 12 months, when the NDA introduced its seat-sharing method for the Bihar elections, the JD(U) and the BJP contested an equal variety of seats– sending out the message that neither of them would act because the “massive brother”.

Just a few months later, the BJP is now the “massive brother” with 89 MLAs as towards the JDU’s 85. Key causes cited for the BJP pushing for a change of guard within the state embody considerations concerning the CM’s well being and governance, the necessity to guarantee a sleek exit for him, and the need to have a BJP chief minister for the primary time within the state.

Even earlier than the Meeting elections, the JD(U) management has nearly managed entry to the 75-year-old CM, who didn’t give any media interviews or had any interplay with folks past a small circle of JD(U) leaders and bureaucrats.

“In 2024 for the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP contested yet another seat than the JD(U) and its symbolic significance was not misplaced on anybody because it was seen as the tip of Nitish Kumar’s ‘massive brother’ stature within the alliance,” a senior BJP chief mentioned.

“The BJP determined to contest an equal variety of seats in 2025 to maintain the alliance intact and is now providing a ‘sleek exit’ to Nitish. However Nitish has to simply accept the provide first.”

The hypothesis gained credence from a late-evening JD(U) assembly attended by working president Sanjay Kumar Jha with senior leaders. The Chief Minister will take name on shifting to the Rajya Sabha, Bihar Cupboard minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary instructed the media Wednesday night time.

Nitish has taken oath because the Bihar Chief Minister a document 10 occasions. He has been within the seat since 2015, apart from the quick interval when Jitan Ram Manjhi was made the chief minister after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Amidst all of the excessive drama that unfolded, Union Minister Giriraj Singh dismissed the hypothesis as a ‘joke’ and mentioned Nitish is the Chief Minister.

Bihar is the one state within the Hindi heartland the place the BJP has by no means had its personal chief minister. BJP sources mentioned the occasion is eager to ship Nitish, who has served as Chief Minister for 20 years, to the Rajya Sabha.

“Final time too, we carried out higher than JD(U) and nonetheless Nitish ji was made the CM. This time too, our numbers had been larger, and nonetheless we adopted the alliance dharma. He simply turned 75 and has served because the CM for fairly a while,” a senior BJP functionary mentioned.

“His well being can be a priority and it does impression general governance. It’s time for youthful leaders to come back ahead and it’s time for a BJP Chief Minister to move the state.”

Hypothesis was rife that Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant will formally be part of the JD(U) and could also be inducted as a deputy chief minister within the new cupboard after the 18 March Rajya Sabha polls.

Senior JD(U) chief and Bihar minister Shrawan Kumar mentioned Tuesday that Nishant will enter “energetic politics”. A variety of different occasion leaders have made the same demand.

All NDA MLAs have been requested to succeed in Patna on Thursday. In line with sources, many alliance leaders have additionally raised governance points in Bihar. Not too long ago, each Jitan Ram Manjhi and Chirag Paswan spoke out towards the prohibition coverage urging the federal government for a assessment.