Uncertainty Surrounds Successor to Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister of Bihar
Potential Candidates in the Spotlight
With the recent swearing-in of Nitish Kumar as a Rajya Sabha MP, the question of who will replace him as Chief Minister of Bihar remains unanswered. Current Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is considered a primary contender for the role; however, there appears to be a lack of consensus within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) regarding his appointment.
On Sunday, the BJP appointed Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the central observer responsible for electing a new leader of the BJP Legislature Party, a position currently held by Choudhary. Kumar is expected to resign from his position as Chief Minister on April 14, and reports suggest that Chouhan might visit Bihar on the same day.
Support and Dissent for Samrat Choudhary
Despite Choudhary’s status as the frontrunner for the Chief Minister position, some within the BJP express reservations. One party source indicated that a significant faction within the BJP and RSS favors a leader with a background in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Sangh. Choudhary’s political journey began with the Samata Party, after which he was affiliated with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) before joining the BJP eight years ago.
In recent days, other names have surfaced as potential candidates for the Chief Minister role, including Union Minister Nityanand Rai, and Bihar Ministers Lakhindra Paswan and Shreyasi Singh. A source revealed that the BJP is considering various options from OBC, economically backward class (EBC), Dalit, and even upper caste constituencies before making a decision. It was emphasized that the ultimate choice will be a collective decision of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rather than solely the BJP.
JD(U)’s Preference and the Sociopolitical Context
The Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] has expressed its support for Choudhary to maintain the existing social coalition within the government. If Choudhary, who belongs to the Kushwaha community, is appointed as Chief Minister, and Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar, representing the Kurmi community, is named Deputy Chief Minister, it would uphold the coalition known as the Luv-Kush combination. A JD(U) leader remarked on Choudhary’s effectiveness as an administrator over the past two years, stating he has earned the trust of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Union Minister and patron of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) Jitan Ram Manjhi remarked on Saturday that he has heard Samrat Choudhary is likely to be the party’s candidate for Chief Minister.
Concerns from NDA Allies
Members of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ramvilas), another ally in the NDA, have voiced their support for Samrat Choudhary as well. However, concerns have arisen regarding the level of communication from the BJP. An LJP (RV) source noted that since Choudhary’s return from Delhi, he has not engaged with many party affiliates, indicating possible unrest within the BJP ranks.
