As the Bihar elections approach, discussions around Nitish Kumar's 'Future After Polls' are intensifying. The Janata Dal (United) of Bihar has already announced the slogan 'From 2025 to 30, Again Nitish.' From the JDU's allies, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to other parties, all are stating that the upcoming assembly elections will be contested under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. However, no one is openly affirming that Nitish Kumar will be the Chief Minister. Opposition parties, citing Nitish Kumar's advancing age and health, are busy claiming that he won't be the Chief Minister post-elections.
The parties and leaders within the NDA are striving to keep Nitish Kumar included in the CM race. Meanwhile, the battle to replace Nitish is brewing not only amongst the opposition parties but also internally. Previously, the skirmish between the leader of the opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, and the architect of 'Jan Suraj,' Prashant Kishor, was unfolding to present an alternative to Nitish Kumar. Now, the name of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief and Union Minister, Chirag Paswan, has also emerged in this race.
Key Players in the Race to Replace Nitish
The race to replace Nitish Kumar in Bihar's politics had begun earlier. Yet, it surged with momentum due to his emotional declaration on the last day of the 2020 election campaign—'This is my last election.' Following Nitish's announcement, Tejashwi Yadav from the opposition Grand Alliance, who was already a candidate for Chief Minister, bolstered the race as more names emerged.
Upendra Kushwaha
Upendra Kushwaha merged his party, the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, with the JDU. His age, experience, and political equations, along with being appointed as the leader of the JDU parliamentary party, reinforce his claim as an alternative to Nitish Kumar for the Chief Minister post. Hailing from the Koeri community, Kushwaha fits well within Nitish Kumar's Luv-Kush (Kurmi, Koeri) arithmetic.
As Upendra Kushwaha was becoming recognized as an alternative to Nitish, things changed. After Nitish rejoined the RJD, leaving the NDA behind, Kushwaha found himself sidelined within the party. He became increasingly vocal against Nitish and eventually left the party to establish his political faction. While Kushwaha's party remains within the NDA, its political stature seems considerably reduced.
Samrat Choudhary
Once the president of Bihar BJP, Samrat Choudhary is a veteran, though he firmly established his presence on the political map following the 2020 Bihar elections. Known for his energetic leadership, Samrat was one of the most vocal opponents of Nitish Kumar within Bihar. The BJP entrusted Samrat with Bihar's command, signaling a strategic move to propose an alternative to Nitish Kumar and emerge from his influence.
The Muretha tightly tied to Samrat's identity symbolized his vow to not reveal it until Nitish steps down. He, too, hails from Koeri community. After Nitish returned to the NDA, leaving the Grand Alliance behind, Samrat was appointed as Deputy Chief Minister in the government. He remains among the most prominent faces in Bihar BJP and is widely regarded as part of the race to replace Nitish Kumar.
Prashant Kishor
Recognized as a major youth face in Bihar's evolving politics beyond Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan's disciples, Prashant Kishor comes from a non-political background but rose to prominence as a strategician. He was credited with leading the victory of the Nitish-led Grand Alliance over the NDA's winning streak in the 2015 Bihar elections. Within a month of joining JDU, Nitish Kumar appointed him as vice-president, and Kishor was seen as Nitish's successor. However, his journey didn’t last long.
Prashant Kishor departed from JDU and set out on a 'Jan Suraj' journey. Running independently with his 'Jan Suraj' initiative, he stands against both the ruling coalition of Bihar and the Lalu family. He aims to establish a new third option, apart from the NDA and the Grand Alliance. His name, too, is considered among the candidates vying to replace Nitish as Chief Minister.
Chirag Paswan
Before the strong emergence of Samrat Choudhary and Prashant Kishor in Bihar, Chirag Paswan, along with Tejashwi Yadav, was considered a strong contender for Chief Minister among young leaders. When Chirag announced contesting the 2020 election alone, it was perceived as an attempt to increase his bargaining power and emerge as a third force.
Chirag Paswan has stirred excitement by planning to contest all 243 seats before this election. Behind this move lie his political ambitions. His statement declaring their alliance solely with the people of Bihar indicates his return to the CM race, and his party is earnestly projecting him as the potential CM face.
