Nitish Kumar's son Nishant enters politics, joins JD(U)

NEW DELHI: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar on Sunday formally joined the JD(U). The development came days after the party chief filed his nomination for a Rajya Sabha seat in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah.On the rare occasions he has appeared in public, Nishant, an engineering student in his 40s, has earned goodwill for his humility. During brief interactions with the media, he has also shown that he closely follows the work carried out by his father. Meanwhile, speculation is growing that Nishant could be made deputy chief minister in the new government.A close aide of Nitish Kumar claimed on Saturday that a “unanimous” decision had been taken to appoint Nishant as deputy chief minister in the government to be formed after his father’s resignation. As the longest-serving chief minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar’s decision to step down from the top post has triggered speculation over his successor within the JD(U) and in state politics. Nishant Kumar has largely stayed away from active politics despite being the son of one of the most influential political figures in modern Bihar. Nitish Kumar’s decision to vacate the chief minister’s chair marks a key moment in the state’s political trajectory, potentially paving the way for new leadership in Bihar and possibly its first BJP chief minister. The shift could also signal the end of the long-running Lalu–Nitish era, with both leaders, political disciples of socialist veteran Jayaprakash Narayan, dominating the state’s politics for over three decades.“I seek to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time. I want to assure you with complete honesty that my relationship with you will continue in the future as well, and my resolve to work together with you to build a developed Bihar will remain steadfast. The new government that will be formed will have my full cooperation and guidance,” the 75-year-old politician announced on X.Although many had anticipated the move amid speculation about his declining health, Nitish Kumar’s sudden announcement still surprised many who expected a smoother transition plan. In the coming days, he is expected to be elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha, following which he will step down as chief minister.The Janata Dal (United) chief’s decision not only brings to a close the political lineage of leaders such as Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia and Karpoori Thakur in Bihar, but also pushes the party into uncharted territory, with no clear roadmap for the future.