Nitish Kumar Takes Oath as Rajya Sabha MP: Who Can Succeed Him? Here Are the Top Contenders
Nitish Kumar took oath as a Rajya Sabha MP on Friday (April 10, 2026), signalling his exit from Bihar’s state politics and paving the way for the formation of a new government in the state.
The oath was administered by Rajya Sabha chairman C.P Radhakrishnan. However, there is no clarity on when he will resign as the Bihar Chief Minister. Speculations suggest that he may resign in a day or two. As for who will be the next Chief Minister of Bihar , here are the most suitable candidates:
Samrat Choudhary, the deputy chief minister of Bihar, is one of the possible contenders for the state’s next chief minister. He also holds the Home portfolio in Bihar government. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ), he was elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly from the Tarapur Assembly Constituency in 2025.
He was the party president of BJP Bihar State unit from March 2023 to 25 July 2024. He has also previously been a Member of the Legislative Assembly and has served as a minister in the Bihar Government during the Rashtriya Janata Dal-led administration. He is often seen as an administrative ready face due to his active role in governance, familiarity with state machinery and involvement in development-oriented politics.
His Kushwaha (Koeri) background adds a crucial caste dimension, given the electoral weight of the "Luv-Kush" caste combination in Bihar politics . There is also a perception that Nitish’s subtle signals indicate that he could be the preferred name for the next Chief Minister.
However, his past associations with Rashtriya Janata Dal continues to invite scepticism, especially among BJP cadres. There have been periodic signs of internal resistance, such as refusal to display posters showcasing him as a Chief Minister face.
Nitayanand Rai, on the other hand, brings significant experience and proximity to the BJP’s top leadership. He has been serving as the Minister of State for Home Affairs since 23 May, 2019. He is also a former president of the Bihar BJP unit.
One of the major advantages with him is his Yadav background. As the Yadav community has traditionally supported the Rashtriya Janata Dal, projecting a Yadav face as a Chief Minister could potentially help them increase the vote bank of Bihar in the long run.
However, Rai has his own set of challenges. Having spent a considerable amount of time in national politics, people believe that Bihar politics need someone who has sustained local or grass-root level of engagement.
There is also an ongoing debate regarding BJP’s strategy. Bihar’s politics has largely focused on consolidating non-Yadav OBC groups, and therefore, having a Yadav as a Chief Minister might be seen as a departure from this traditional approach.
For now, the difference is clear: Choudhary represents administrative continuity within the current framework, a move that is less of a gamble, while Rai embodies a more calculated political gamble aimed at reshaping caste equations. This approach is risky, but if it succeeds, it could be a huge win for the BJP.
The oath was administered by Rajya Sabha chairman C.P Radhakrishnan. However, there is no clarity on when he will resign as the Bihar Chief Minister. Speculations suggest that he may resign in a day or two. As for who will be the next Chief Minister of Bihar , here are the most suitable candidates:
Samrat Choudhary
Samrat Choudhary, the deputy chief minister of Bihar, is one of the possible contenders for the state’s next chief minister. He also holds the Home portfolio in Bihar government. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ), he was elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly from the Tarapur Assembly Constituency in 2025.
He was the party president of BJP Bihar State unit from March 2023 to 25 July 2024. He has also previously been a Member of the Legislative Assembly and has served as a minister in the Bihar Government during the Rashtriya Janata Dal-led administration. He is often seen as an administrative ready face due to his active role in governance, familiarity with state machinery and involvement in development-oriented politics.
His Kushwaha (Koeri) background adds a crucial caste dimension, given the electoral weight of the "Luv-Kush" caste combination in Bihar politics . There is also a perception that Nitish’s subtle signals indicate that he could be the preferred name for the next Chief Minister.
However, his past associations with Rashtriya Janata Dal continues to invite scepticism, especially among BJP cadres. There have been periodic signs of internal resistance, such as refusal to display posters showcasing him as a Chief Minister face.
Nityanand Rai
Nitayanand Rai, on the other hand, brings significant experience and proximity to the BJP’s top leadership. He has been serving as the Minister of State for Home Affairs since 23 May, 2019. He is also a former president of the Bihar BJP unit.
One of the major advantages with him is his Yadav background. As the Yadav community has traditionally supported the Rashtriya Janata Dal, projecting a Yadav face as a Chief Minister could potentially help them increase the vote bank of Bihar in the long run.
However, Rai has his own set of challenges. Having spent a considerable amount of time in national politics, people believe that Bihar politics need someone who has sustained local or grass-root level of engagement.
There is also an ongoing debate regarding BJP’s strategy. Bihar’s politics has largely focused on consolidating non-Yadav OBC groups, and therefore, having a Yadav as a Chief Minister might be seen as a departure from this traditional approach.
For now, the difference is clear: Choudhary represents administrative continuity within the current framework, a move that is less of a gamble, while Rai embodies a more calculated political gamble aimed at reshaping caste equations. This approach is risky, but if it succeeds, it could be a huge win for the BJP.
Next Story