Vinay Kumar
PATNA: Janata Dal (United) supporters gathered outside Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s residence on Thursday, protesting against his move to the Rajya Sabha and demanding that he continue as the state’s chief minister. Raising slogans and blocking entry points, the workers expressed anger and disappointment over what they see as a departure from the public mandate. JD(U) leader Rajeev Ranjan Patel said to news agency ANI, “What should we do if not cry? We endured lathi charge and kicking to make Nitish Kumar the chief minister. In 2025, we went door-to-door seeking votes for Nitish Kumar. If he is no longer the chief minister, where will the people of Bihar go? You can hold elections today and make whoever you want the chief minister… The workers’ only demand is that Nishant (Nitish Kumar’s son) be sent to the Rajya Sabha.” He added, “If someone wants to change the chief minister, if they feel they have the power to change the leadership, if their face has that much power, then they should hold elections and get a majority, we will not say anything… We will stay here and will not let him go to file his nomination. Nishant Kumar will be nominated; we will not let Nitish Kumar go.” The protest escalated as party workers surrounded JD(U) leader and Hilsa MLA Krishna Murari Sharan’s car, preventing him from entering the CM’s residence. Workers reiterated that conspiracies are being hatched against Kumar and that he should complete his term as chief minister. “The people of Bihar have elected him from 2025 to 2030. What is the compulsion to send him to the Rajya Sabha? Our leader was, is, and will be Nitish Kumar,” said Krishna Patel, a JD(U) worker. While the protests reflected strong dissent within the party, senior JD(U) leader Sanjay Singh said the decision rests with the CM. “If he has made the decision that he wants to go to the Rajya Sabha, then we cannot oppose it, but the public of Bihar wants him to continue to be the CM,” Singh said. Congress leader Raashid Alvi alleged the BJP aims to remove Kumar from state politics by offering him a Rajya Sabha seat, suggesting the move could allow the party to install its own chief minister. “They aim to outwit Nitish Kumar by moving him to Delhi and enthroning their own CM in Bihar. This is very much possible,” Alvi said. Union Minister Giriraj Singh refuted such claims, calling them “jokes” and reaffirming Kumar’s leadership. CM Nitish Kumar himself addressed the state in a post on X, stating: “For more than two decades, you have consistently placed your trust and support in me, and it is on the strength of that trust that we have served Bihar and all of you with complete dedication. In keeping with my parliamentary aspirations, I seek to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time. My commitment to Bihar and its people remains steadfast, and I will continue to support the state’s development. The new government that will be formed will have my full cooperation and guidance.” Meanwhile, JD(U) workers have alleged that Kumar’s recent post on X may have been drafted by someone else or posted under pressure, fueling further debate within the party. Thursday’s protests underscore the tension within JD(U) and Bihar politics, as loyal supporters struggle to reconcile with the CM’s transition to the Rajya Sabha and the implications for the state government.
