Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is expected to take oath as a Rajya Sabha member on April 10. As per sources, he is likely to leave Patna for Delhi on April 9 and stay there for a few days, during which he may meet senior BJP leaders.

It is learnt that Nitish Kumar may resign as Chief Minister soon after returning to Patna, possibly on or after April 12. This could lead to the formation of a new government in Bihar. His move to the Rajya Sabha has sparked fresh discussions about who will be the next Chief Minister.

Who will be Bihar's next CM? Although rules allow a non-legislator to remain Chief Minister for up to six months, leaders within the NDA believe Kumar is unlikely to continue for that long. Reports indicate that a leadership change may take place after the Kharmaas period ends on April 14.

Within the BJP, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is being seen as a strong contender for the top post. Union Minister Nityanand Rai is also among the possible names. The final decision is expected to be taken by the party’s central leadership.

Meanwhile, sources from JD(U) say the party may demand a larger role in the new Cabinet. There is also talk about a possible key role for Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar.

Even after stepping down, Nitish Kumar will continue to get ‘Z Plus’ security, the highest level of protection, as confirmed by the Bihar Home Department.