Nitish likely to file nominations for Rajya Sabha polls

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to file nomination for the Rajya Sabha from Patna, signalling a possible end to his long tenure as chief minister. BJP leader Nitin Nabin will also file papers as NDA eyes all five seats

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to file nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha polls on Thursday, according to JD(U) leaders.

Kumar may file his nomination papers at the State assembly around 11 am, they said.

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BJP president Nitin Nabin will also file his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha polls.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to be present at the time of filing of the nomination papers.

State minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary had confirmed on Wednesday that Kumar was considering entering the Rajya Sabha, which would bring to an end his tenure as the longest-serving chief minister of the state.

With Kumar likely to step down after leading the ruling NDA to a landslide victory in the 2025 assembly elections, a BJP leader is expected to take over the top post.

If that happens, Bihar will get its first BJP chief minister — the only Hindi heartland state where the party has not held the office so far.

However, an official announcement regarding Kumar’s entry into the Upper House of Parliament is yet to be made.

Five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar will go to the polls on March 16.

The elections will be held as the tenures of JD(U)’s Harivansh Narayan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur, RJD’s Prem Chand Gupta and Amarendra Dhari Singh, and RLM’s Upendra Kushwaha are ending.

As per the latest tally in the state legislature, all five seats would now go to the ruling NDA.

Before filing his nomination papers, the BJP president will visit the revered Mahavir Temple here and offer prayers.