End of an era! Bihar's 'Susashan Babu' Nitish Kumar announces exit as CM, set for Rajya Sabha debut

In an emotional post on X, the Janata Dal (United) chief said he had long cherished the dream of serving both Houses of the Bihar legislature as well as both Houses of Parliament.

“In keeping with this aspiration, I seek to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time,” Kumar wrote, drawing the curtain on his long and influential tenure as Chief Minister.

“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 outgoing Chief Minister—often called ‘Susashan Babu’—added.

According to reports, Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar may be inducted as Deputy Chief Minister, while a leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party is expected to assume the Chief Minister’s role in a long-anticipated shift that would place the party firmly in the driver’s seat in Bihar.

A leader close to Kumar, whose name is also being considered for the Rajya Sabha, remarked, “It is time to mourn. Everything had been decided in Delhi,” hinting at the role of the central leadership in orchestrating the transition.

BJP in command?

The possibility of such a move had been widely speculated even before the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, but the BJP refrained from acting hastily given Kumar’s towering presence in the state’s political landscape and his enduring electoral appeal.

At 75, Kumar is Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister, having taken oath a record 10 times.

Over the years, he has led campaigns for both the National Democratic Alliance and the Mahagathbandhan, maintaining a loyal voter base despite multiple political realignments.

In 2025, when many had written him off, Kumar staged a political comeback with strong backing from women voters—often credited to welfare initiatives such as the bicycle scheme for schoolgirls and the statewide liquor prohibition policy.

However, with the BJP emerging as the dominant partner in the alliance and JD(U) slipping to second place in terms of legislative strength, pressure had been mounting for a leadership change.

The opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal has also targeted Kumar over alleged age-related decline, further fuelling speculation about a leadership transition in the state.