Nitish Kumar Files Rajya Sabha Nomination Amid Political Turbulence in Bihar

Patna, March 2026 : In a major political development in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections, a move that has sparked intense political debate and triggered protests among sections of his own party workers.

Along with Nitish Kumar, four other candidates from the ruling alliance — Nitin Nabin, Shivesh Kumar Ram and Upendra Kushwaha — also submitted their nominations on the same day. The nomination process witnessed the presence of several senior leaders from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), reflecting the alliance’s support for the candidates.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah travelled to Patna from New Delhi and was present during the filing of nomination papers, highlighting the political significance of the event. Senior leaders from both the Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also attended the occasion.

However, the development quickly led to political tension outside the Chief Minister’s residence. A group of JD(U) leaders and workers gathered to protest the move, raising slogans against the BJP and expressing concern over what they described as an attempt to sideline Nitish Kumar from active state politics.

As Amit Shah exited the residence along with the Chief Minister, some protesting workers shouted slogans such as “Down with Amit Shah” and accused the BJP of trying to weaken the JD(U) through what they called “Operation Lotus,” a term often used by opposition parties to describe alleged attempts to destabilise regional parties.

The situation briefly turned chaotic when a minister from the BJP in the Bihar government was confronted by protesting workers and had to leave the area amid the commotion.

Several JD(U) supporters claimed that Nitish Kumar was being pressured to move to national politics through the Rajya Sabha, arguing that such a shift could pave the way for the BJP to assume direct leadership in Bihar. They alleged that despite the alliance contesting elections in the name of Nitish Kumar’s leadership, efforts were now being made to gradually change the political equation in the state.

Meanwhile, the opposition reacted strongly to the development. Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav criticised the move and claimed that the public was not in favour of any change in leadership. He alleged that the BJP had already formulated a strategy to remove Nitish Kumar from the state’s top post.

Tejashwi also referred to earlier political campaigns that projected Nitish Kumar’s leadership in Bihar beyond 2025 and questioned why the Chief Minister was now being moved to the Rajya Sabha without broader political or public consultation.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader further accused the BJP of following a consistent strategy of weakening its allies before consolidating its own political control. He cited examples from other states, referring to developments involving the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, and the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab.

Nitish Kumar’s entry into the Rajya Sabha is being widely viewed as a significant shift in Bihar’s political landscape. While NDA leaders projected unity during the nomination process, the protests within the JD(U) and sharp criticism from opposition parties indicate that the state could witness further political developments in the coming days.