Nitish Kumar to File Rajya Sabha Nomination Today, Bihar Likely to See Leadership Change

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is scheduled to file his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha today, March 5, 2026. The filing will take place at the Bihar State Assembly in Patna between 11:00 AM and 11:30 AM. This move is a major step in the veteran leader’s career as he prepares to transition from state leadership to the Upper House of Parliament. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to be present in the city to witness the nomination filing for both Nitish Kumar and BJP state president Nitin Nabin.

What is the schedule for the Rajya Sabha election in Bihar?

The election process for five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar is currently underway as these seats will fall vacant on April 9, 2026. The key dates for the process are mentioned below:

In the 243-member Bihar Assembly, a candidate needs the support of at least 41 MLAs to secure a seat in the Rajya Sabha. The counting of votes will happen on the same day as polling if a contest occurs.

Major political shifts expected in the state

There is high speculation that Nitish Kumar will convene a JD(U) legislative party meeting today to announce his resignation as Chief Minister. This would end his record-breaking tenure of 10 terms in the top post. Since the BJP is now the largest party in the alliance with 89 seats, there are reports that the next Chief Minister could be from the BJP for the first time in Bihar’s history.

Another significant development involves the potential entry of Nishant Kumar, the son of Nitish Kumar, into active politics. He might be considered for a role in the state cabinet or a Deputy CM position to maintain the JD(U) support base. Nitish Kumar’s move to the Rajya Sabha fulfills his long-held desire to serve in all four legislative houses, including the Bihar Vidhan Sabha, Vidhan Parishad, Lok Sabha, and now the Rajya Sabha.