Bihar Saddened As Longest Serving CM Nitish Kumar Tenders Resignation.

Patna; March 2026: Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar resigned from his membership of the Bihar Legislative Council (MLC) today. Chairman of the Bihar Legislative Council, Awadhesh Narain Singh, today have confirmed that the resignation of Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar from the Legislative Council (MLC) has been accepted, adding that the state is “saddened by his departure.”

Speaking to reporters, Singh said he met the Chief Minister earlier in the day as part of a courtesy visit and received his resignation. “I met the Chief Minister this morning as a courtesy visit. He has submitted his resignation. The seat will be declared vacant. Bihar is saddened by his departure. Today, Bihar is being counted among the developed states. The resignation has been accepted”, he said.

Nitish Kumar, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha earlier this month, tendered his resignation from the state legislature. Further, Bihar Legislative Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar said that, “an official letter has been issued, and formal notification will follow”, while expressing confidence that Nitish Kumar will continue to focus on the welfare of Bihar.

He added that both leaders have played pivotal roles in state and national politics and shared a long-standing bond that will endure into the future. “I have accepted the resignation of Nitish Kumar. I have issued instructions to initiate the necessary further proceedings. An official letter has been issued, and a formal notification will also be released shortly. I have also received confirmation that the Chief Minister of Bihar has tendered his resignation within the Council. This is, truly, a deeply emotional moment; we have worked together for a very long time”, Prem Kumar said.

“Although this parting naturally evokes a sense of unease and concern, I remain fully confident that his focus will always remain squarely centered on the welfare of Bihar. Both of these leaders have consistently played a pivotal role in the politics of both the nation and the State of Bihar. Our bond is a long-standing one, it existed in the past, endures in the present, and will undoubtedly persist into the future”, he said.

Janata Dal (United) MLC Sanjay Gandhi said Nitish Kumar resigned from the Legislative Council in a composed manner, calling it “not an emotional moment. It wasn’t an emotional moment. The Chief Minister was feeling very comfortable. He follows the rules. We have been MLCs for 20 years”, he said.

On March 05th, the 75 years old political doyen had penned a heartfelt message announcing his decision. He expressed his longing desire to be a member of both houses of the Bihar Legislature as well as the Houses of Parliament. He asserted his commitment to building a “developed Bihar” and extended his “cooperation and guidance” to the new government.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had welcomed Kumar’s decision and lauded his return to the parliamentary democracy. A week earlier, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was unanimously elected as President of the Janata Dal (United) after no other candidate filed a nomination for the post. Nitish Kumar’s political career is a masterclass in coalition manouvering, marked by a series of high-stakes ideological shifts. Beginning his journey as an MLA in 1985 and later serving as a Union Minister under the Vajpayee government, he first ascended to the Bihar Chief Minister’s office in 2005 as a pillar of the NDA.

Since 2013, however, his tenure has been defined by a “revolving door” of alliances, alternating between the BJP and the Mahagathbandhan (RJD and Congress) in 2013, 2017, 2022, and 2024. Despite these frequent realignments, his political survival remains unparalleled; most recently, he secured a fifth electoral landslide in 2025, taking the oath as Chief Minister for a record-breaking tenth time.

Nitish Kumar’s move to the Rajya Sabha could reshape Bihar’s political landscape, potentially giving the BJP more influence in the state and setting the stage for a new leadership in Patna.

Team Maverick.