Patna
Speculation regarding a major shift in Bihar politics has intensified. According to sources, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may resign from his membership of the Bihar Legislative Council on March 30. It is reported that the proceedings of both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council are currently in recess until March 29; consequently, he is expected to tender his resignation on Monday, March 30.
**Who Will Be the Next Chief Minister of Bihar?**
Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar arrived at the Circuit House in Bihar Sharif, Nalanda, and, while speaking to the media, stated that there is time until April 9, after which the situation will become clear. He further added that the final decision regarding the name of the new Chief Minister will be taken during an NDA meeting, and the next Chief Minister will be chosen in accordance with Nitish Kumar’s wishes. However, no official announcement has been made in this regard so far, and political circles remain rife with mere speculation.
**What Do the Rules Say?**
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to move to the Rajya Sabha after resigning from the post of Chief Minister. The question remains: when will he take his oath in the Rajya Sabha? The current session of the Rajya Sabha is scheduled to continue until April 2. It is expected that he may take his oath during this period. Consequently, his visit to Delhi is also considered a certainty. According to the Constitution, if an individual becomes a member of the Rajya Sabha, they are required to relinquish their membership in the state legislature within 14 days. Based on this stipulation, it is believed that Nitish Kumar must resign from his membership of the Legislative Council by March 30.
**When Will the Name of the Next Chief Minister Be Revealed?**
Nitish Kumar was elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16. Under the rules, if a member fails to resign from their state legislature seat within 14 days, their membership in the Rajya Sabha automatically stands cancelled. As for the new Chief Minister, it is believed that a decision regarding the formation of the new government may only be taken after the conclusion of *Khar-mas*—that is, after April 14. For the time being, the suspense surrounding the Chief Minister’s post persists. However, for some time now, Nitish Kumar has appeared to be subtly projecting the name of Samrat Chaudhary.
