Patna: Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar on Thursday (April 10) took oath as a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament.
He was administered the oath by Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan.
The development comes months after the NDA—comprising JD(U) and the BJP—returned to power in Bihar following the Assembly elections held late last year. While the BJP won more seats than JD(U), Nitish Kumar continued as Chief Minister.
Amid talk that the state could soon see a BJP-led government, Nitish Kumar contested the recent Rajya Sabha election. He said he had served as an MLA, MLC and Lok Sabha MP, but had never been a Rajya Sabha MP, and that this was why he was moving towards Delhi politics.
With his swearing-in, his exit from the Chief Minister’s post is now seen as certain, and he is expected to formally submit his resignation letter on April 14. Meanwhile, the BJP is said to be pushing for an immediate replacement, with Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Samrat Choudhary being the party leadership’s preferred choice.
