JD(U) legislators project Nishant Kumar as future Bihar CM

Janata Dal (United) leader Nishant Kumar, son of former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, was unanimously projected as the party’s future and as the next Chief Minister of the State during a crucial JD(U) meeting held at the party office in Patna on Friday (September 18, 2026).

JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar, MLAs, MLCs and other senior leaders of the party, including national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, attended the meeting. It was a one-day orientation and training programme for newly-elected JD(U) MLAs and MLCs.

Soon after the meeting, Barauli MLA Manjeet Kumar Singh said: “There is no doubt, Nishant Kumar is our leader, and he has all the abilities to lead the party and the State. We all want him to lead Bihar in the coming days. Every MLA and leader of the party wants this,” Mr. Singh said.

JD(U) State president Umesh Singh Kushwaha said that he had no hesitation in accepting that the party’s future lies with Nishant Kumar. He asserted that the party’s future is in safe and capable hands, noting that Mr. Nishant has quickly made a place “in the hearts of the people through his work and dedication to public service”.

Three-hour meeting

The meeting of the JD(U) legislators lasted for nearly three hours, during which several other issues were also discussed, including strengthening the party at the grassroots level. However, Mr. Nitish was present there only for a brief period.

Mr. Nishant did not react to his projection as future Chief Minister or leading the party but rather chose to use the platform to attack the Opposition party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

“After 2005, maintaining law and order was accorded the highest priority in Bihar. The atmosphere of fear, crime, and kidnapping that prevailed at the time was handled carefully, and an environment of peace and harmony was established,” Mr. Nishant said.

Following in the footsteps of his father, he asserted that former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has never compromised on the ‘Triple C’ — crime, corruption, and communalism — and he, too, would never compromise on this policy. He added that his father has always taught him that politics is not a means to secure a position, but an opportunity for public service.

“With this objective in mind, I am working further to strengthen Bihar’s healthcare system and also to take the JD(U) to new heights. JD(U) is a party rooted in socialist values, with ‘development with good governance and justice’ as its guiding principle,” Mr. Nishant said, who now serves as Health Minister in the State Cabinet of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

He also pointed out that whether inside or outside the legislature, the goal is to keep the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) united. He also urged legislators to reach out to the booth level in their constituencies and connect with voters.

Training module

At the beginning of the programme, Mr. Jha said that many incumbent MLAs had won elections for the first time in the 2025 polls, and it was essential to train them to discharge their legislative responsibilities effectively. He added that with this objective, a team of experts from Delhi (PRS Legislative Research) was invited to provide information regarding the law-making process, budgetary procedures, and the functioning of the House.

Mr. Jha said that the party’s greatest asset is the 20-year track record of Nitish Kumar, and his popularity continues to grow due to his work. He asked legislators that the JD(U) must move forward by highlighting his work and his politics of development.