Low-profile Nishant finds himself in the spotlight

Patna: For someone who has consciously tried to stay away from the spotlight, Nishant Kumar — son of CM Nitish Kumar — has repeatedly found himself at the centre of media attention. The latest instance came on Wednesday when his name briefly surfaced as a possible JD(U) nominee for Rajya Sabha, before the focus swiftly shifted back to his father by the evening.Born on July 20, 1975, Nishant has maintained a life far removed from politics. He grew up under the care of his mother, the late Manju Sinha, a govt school teacher, with whom he lived in Kankarbagh. Educated at St Karen’s School in Patna, Manav Bharti India International School in Mussoorie, and later doing his BTech from BIT Mesra, he has shown little inclination towards a public life.Known for his quiet demeanour, he rarely speaks to the media and avoids political controversies. And whenever approached by the media, he would only praise his father. On the eve of the 2025 elections, Nishant had said, “The people of Bihar will definitely give him (Nitish) an opportunity to work. He has worked a lot and will continue to do so in the future.”Despite this, sections within the JD(U) kept projecting him as potential heir ahead of the 2025 assembly elections, driven by concerns over the party’s future in the event of Nitish’s exit. Nishant, who is unmarried and reportedly possesses property inherited from his mother, is still not a JD(U) member. His supporters and political observers believe he could become deputy CM if the BJP forms the govt with its own CM after Nitish moves to Rajya Sabha. But given the evolving situation, Nishant may not manage to stay away from the spotlight for long.