Nitish Kumar’s Son Likely to Enter Legislative Council in Bihar Ex-Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, is expected to be elected to the state legislative council. Nishant was recently inducted into the state cabinet for the first time. Alongside him, Deepak Prakash, son of Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) leader Upendra Kushwaha, is also anticipated to secure a seat in the legislative council. The state legislative council will face the loss of 10 seats in June, with the tenure of nine members ending on June 28. One seat is already vacant following Nitish Kumar’s resignation from the Upper House after his election to the Rajya Sabha on March 30. The government is expected to announce legislative council elections by the end of May. The legislative council elections will fill vacancies created by the expiration of nine members’ terms and the existing vacant seat. Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, is likely to follow a legislative council route to advance his political career. The inclusion of Deepak Prakash highlights the involvement of key political figures’ families in state politics. The legislative council elections are part of the state’s procedural schedule, with no additional details provided about the selection process or candidates. RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmad raised concerns about the status of senior JD(U) leaders Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav. He cited discrepancies in two notifications issued by the Cabinet Secretariat Department. The first notification, dated April 15—the day Samrat Choudhary took oath as chief minister—listed both Chaudhary and Yadav as deputy chief ministers with assigned ministries. A subsequent notification on May 7 omitted their designation as deputy chief ministers, referring to them only as ministers.#nitish_kumar #nishant_kumar #upendra_kushwaha #deepak_prakash #rashtriya_lok_morcha
BJP Announces 9 Rajya Sabha Candidates, Bihar Becomes Key Battleground in NDA's 2026 Election Strategy The Bharatiya Janata Party has released its initial list of nine candidates for the 2026 Rajya Sabha elections, marking a significant step in the political landscape ahead of the biennial polls. The announcement underscores Bihar as a critical state where the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is likely to face intense competition. The party’s central election committee has cleared the names, setting the stage for a strategic contest in several states. In Bihar, the BJP has nominated Nitin Nabin and Shivesh Kumar. Nabin, currently an MLA from the Bankipur Assembly constituency, will need to resign from his legislative seat upon joining the Rajya Sabha, triggering an inevitable by-election in Bankipur. A prominent figure within the state’s organizational structure, Nabin belongs to the Kayastha community. His candidacy highlights the party’s focus on maintaining its influence in the state. The second Bihar nominee, Shivesh Kumar, comes from a Scheduled Caste background. A former MLA, Kumar contested the Sasaram Lok Sabha seat in 2024 but lost the election. His background as a former IAS officer and son of former BJP MP Munilal Ram adds layers to his political profile. The announcement has also raised questions about Upendra Kushwaha, a key figure in Bihar politics. With the BJP fielding two candidates from the state, speculation persists about whether Kushwaha will emerge as a fifth NDA nominee. If so, securing the required number of MLAs could become challenging, potentially leading to a contest with an RJD candidate. Beyond Bihar, the BJP has selected candidates in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Odisha, and West Bengal. In Assam, Terash Gowalla and Jogen Mohan have been nominated.#bharatiya_janata_party #rajya_sabha_elections #nitin_nabin #shivesh_kumar #upendra_kushwaha
