Nitish Kumar Likely to File Rajya Sabha Nomination Today

Patna, Mar 5: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to file his nomination papers for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections on Thursday, according to leaders of the Janata Dal (United).

Party sources said Kumar is expected to submit his nomination at the state assembly around 11 am. Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, is likely to be present during the filing of the nomination papers.

Meanwhile, Nitin Nabin, president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar, will also file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha polls.

State minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary confirmed on Wednesday that Kumar was considering entering the Upper House of Parliament, a move that could bring to an end his tenure as the longest-serving chief minister of the state.

With Kumar likely to step down after leading the ruling National Democratic Alliance to a landslide victory in the 2025 assembly elections, a BJP leader is expected to take over the chief minister’s post.

If that happens, Bihar could get its first BJP chief minister — the only Hindi heartland state where the party has not held the top office so far.

However, an official announcement regarding Kumar’s entry into the Rajya Sabha is yet to be made.

Elections to five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar are scheduled to be held on March 16. The polls are being conducted as the tenures of JD(U)’s Harivansh Narayan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur, RJD leaders Prem Chand Gupta and Amarendra Dhari Singh, and RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha are coming to an end.

According to the latest tally in the state legislature, all five seats are expected to go to the ruling NDA.

Before filing his nomination papers, BJP president Nabin will visit the revered Mahavir Temple to offer prayers. (Agencies)