Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar, has officially declared his intention to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha in the upcoming election cycle. The announcement was made on March 5, and Kumar, who is 75 years old, emphasized his commitment to the state and its development.

He expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by the people of Bihar over the past two decades. Kumar stated that it is this trust that has allowed the state to advance and expressed that the new state government will have his “full cooperation and guidance”. Taking to X, he assured that he remains dedicated to collaboratively building a better Bihar.

Nitish Kumar’s Political Journey

Nitish Kumar has had a lengthy and varied political career. He began his foray into politics with the Janata Dal, securing a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) position in 1985. In 1994, he co-founded the Samata Party alongside George Fernandes. His political ascent continued as he was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1996 and later served as a Union Minister under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

Tenure as Chief Minister

In 2005, Kumar led the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to a victory in the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, marking the start of his tenure as Chief Minister. This coalition, primarily with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), achieved a sweeping re-election in 2010. However, in June 2013, Kumar parted ways with the BJP to form a new alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Indian National Congress.

Changes in Alliances

Following a series of political shifts, Kumar stepped down in 2014 but returned to the chief ministerial role in 2015 after leading the Mahagathbandhan to victory. In 2017, he again realigned with the NDA, partnering once more with the BJP. Kumar’s political affiliations have seen further changes; in August 2022, he exited the NDA to rejoin the Mahagathbandhan, only to switch back to the NDA in January 2024.

Recent Developments

Despite these fluctuations in alliances, Nitish Kumar secured another victory in the 2025 elections, making it his fifth term in office. This marked his tenth swearing-in as Chief Minister of Bihar. Kumar’s recent move to seek a seat in the Rajya Sabha is seen as a strategic step that may facilitate an increased influence of the BJP in Bihar’s governance structure, potentially leading to claims over the Chief Minister’s position by the party.

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