Patna, April 11 (UNI) With several prominent names, mostly from the BJP , doing the rounds in political circles as potential Chief Minister, suspense over the next CM of Bihar continues to loom amid hectic backchannel discussions within the NDA allies.
The buzz is that a high-level meeting in New Delhi of the BJP was called off without any specific reason. Leaders who had reached the national capital are learnt to have returned to Patna empty-handed, fueling speculation of unresolved differences among NDA constituents.
Amid the prevailing uncertainty, the JDU convened a crucial meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence in Patna on Saturday morning, which lasted over two hours. Senior party leaders deliberated on the evolving political situation, including the contentious issue of the next chief ministerial face and the possible structure of a new cabinet.
On Saturday morning, JDU working president Sanjay Jha and Bihar Parliamentary Affairs minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary met Nitish Kumar, underlining the urgency of internal consultations.
Speaking on the developments, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, considered a close aide of Nitish Kumar, indicated that there is no immediate change in government merely due to the chief minister’s elevation to the Rajya Sabha. “Government formation does not happen with oath-taking but with resignation. One needs to wait, the timing will be appropriate,” he remarked, hinting that key decisions are still pending.
Meanwhile, Chirag Paswan, union Minister and national president of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), ruled himself out of the chief ministerial race. He reiterated that while the “face” of the government may change, the NDA’s governing formula will remain intact. Paswan emphasised that any new leader would carry forward Nitish Kumar’s experience, vision and inclusive approach.
In parallel, the BJP is also slated to hold a crucial meeting in Patna, where party in-charge for the political affairs of Bihar Vinod Tawde is expected to be present. The meeting is likely to focus on the CM face and the roadmap for government formation.
The political churn gained momentum after Nitish Kumar took oath as a Rajya Sabha member, triggering fresh speculation about a possible leadership transition in Bihar. The coming three-four days are being seen as crucial, with intense discussions underway on Nitish Kumar's successor.
Adding another dimension to the unfolding scenario, JDU chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar shared a social media post hinting at the emergence of Nishant Kumar, son of Nitish Kumar, as a future political figure. The post, accompanied by a video, portrayed Nishant as a potential leader, reflecting growing voices within the party advocating a larger role for him.
As political activities gather pace, political pundits opine that Bihar is awaiting clarity on its next leadership and added that with internal dynamics of the NDA still evolving, the final decision on the chief ministerial face would be a crucial.
UNI RS PRS