Nitish Kumar resigned as Bihar Chief Minister on Tuesday, dissolving his cabinet and ending a political era that had defined the state for over two decades. The move clears the way for the BJP to lead a Bihar government under its own chief minister for the first time.
Kumar, who heads the Janata Dal (United) and became a Rajya Sabha MP last week, tendered his resignation to Governor Syed Ata Hasnain shortly after chairing the final meeting of his cabinet at 11 am. The BJP, the single largest party in the 243-seat assembly with 89 MLAs, then held a legislature party meeting at its state office to elect its new leader.
A swearing-in ceremony for the new Chief Minister and Council of Ministers is scheduled for April 15 at 11 am at Raj Bhavan. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary is widely considered the front-runner. A member of the Koeri caste — a significant OBC demographic — Chaudhary became state BJP president in 2023 and deputy CM a year later.
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At 75, Kumar remains Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister, having taken oath an unprecedented ten times. Throughout his career, he navigated complex alliances, leading governments backed by both the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. His welfare initiatives, the bicycle scheme for schoolgirls and a statewide liquor prohibition policy, played a crucial role in consolidating his voter base, particularly among women.
In March 2026, Kumar announced his intention to contest the Rajya Sabha elections, and on April 10 was sworn in as a member of Parliament's upper house, formally signalling his exit from state politics.
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