Nitish files RS papers ahead of his exit as CM

Nitish files RS papers ahead of his exit as CM

Marking the end of an era, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He was accompanied by the other four candidates of the ruling National Democratic Alliance, including BJP national president Nitin Nabin, who filed their papers for the five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar that will fall vacant on April 9.

While the Opposition mocked Mr. Kumar for becoming a “puppet of the BJP”, accusing him of betraying the electoral mandate, rumours buzzed within the NDA about who would succeed him in Patna, with discussions about the Janata Dal (United) chief’s son being given the Deputy Chief Minister role under a BJP Chief Minister.

‘Spotless tenure’

Confirming speculation about the end of his 20-year rule in Bihar with a post on social media, Mr. Kumar declared that he had a “desire in his heart” to become a member of both the Houses of Parliament. As he has previously been a Lok Sabha member, he now “seeks” to become a member of the Rajya Sabha, he said.

After all five candidates filed their nomination papers, Mr. Shah praised Mr. Kumar’s tenure in Bihar as “spotless, memorable, and golden”. “Nitish Kumar ji will be remembered for the glorious works he has done for the development of the State.”

NDA sources told news agency PTI that it will take a few weeks before Mr. Kumar relinquishes the CM’s post, which he is likely to hold until leaving for the national capital to be sworn in as an MP.

Apart from Mr. Kumar and Mr. Nabin, the other NDA candidates are former BJP MLA Shivesh Kumar, JD(U) leader and Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ram Nath Thakur, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha. Both Mr. Thakur and Mr. Kushwaha are seeking re-election to the Upper House.

NDA buzz

Though there had been buzz that Mr. Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar would formally join the JD(U) on Thursday, there was no confirmation from the party. “Chief Minister Nitish Kumar wants to make Nishant Kumar joining the party as a separate event,” a JD(U) source said.

It is expected that once the senior Mr. Kumar shifts his political base to Delhi, his son may be appointed one of two Deputy Chief Ministers from the JD(U) under a new regime headed, for the first time in Bihar, by a Chief Minister from the BJP. The names doing the rounds for the top post include current Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, and Bihar Industries Minister Dilip Jaiswal. Some leaders claimed that Mr. Kumar would “continue to guide and lead the NDA in Bihar”.

JD(U) workers protest

A section of JD(U) workers protested Mr. Kumar’s decision outside his official residence and party headquarters in Patna, shouting slogans saying, “Nitish Kumar zindabad”, and “Hum Nitish Kumar ko Bihar nahi chhodne denge (We will not let Nitish Kumar leave Bihar)”. Some protesting party workers flipped furniture at party headquarters, though Police were deployed there as well as at the Bihar legislature and the CM’s residence to prevent further mayhem.

“We braved lathis to make Nitish Kumar the Chief Minister of the State,” said an emotional JD-U worker outside the 1, Anne Marg residence of the CM.

‘Betrayal of mandate’

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav mocked Mr. Kumar’s decision. “I express my sympathy for Nitish Kumar ji. He has been hijacked by BJP leaders... His mental condition is not good,” he said.

“The core voters of the JD(U) feel cheated. It’s a betrayal of mandate.”

He also accused the BJP of usurping power in the State. “The Maharashtra model has been implemented in Bihar as well. It is well known that the BJP has gobbled up its alliance partners in several places,” Mr. Yadav told journalists in Patna. “Whoever becomes the new Chief Minister of Bihar, he will be a rubber stamp of the BJP,” he added.

In a post on social media, his sister Rohini Acharya claimed that Mr. Kumar has become a “puppet of the BJP”, terming his actions as the “pinnacle of opportunism”.

RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha drew parallels between Mr. Nitish Kumar and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro who was captured by U.S. forces earlier this year.