Nitish Kumar steps down as Bihar CM, submits resignation to Governor Syed Ata Hasnain

After nearly two decades of shaping Bihar’s political landscape, Nitish Kumar resigned as Chief Minister on Tuesday, just hours after dissolving his cabinet. The state’s longest-serving Chief Minister arrived at Lok Bhavan in Patna to submit his resignation to Governor Syed Ata Hasnain. Notably, Kumar had taken oath as a Member of the Rajya Sabha on April 10.

An Emotional Farewell in the Cabinet Room

The Bihar cabinet dissolution came after a final cabinet meeting at the Old Secretariat in Patna, where Nitish Kumar informed his ministerial colleagues of his decision, a constitutional formality required before a chief minister may formally resign.

Earlier PTI quoted, State minister Ram Kripal Yadav, speaking to reporters outside, describing the scene within, "It was a very emotional moment for all of us. The CM informed us about his decision for dissolution of the cabinet. He will submit his resignation as CM to the governor later in the day."

Nitish Kumar, widely regarded as the longest-serving chief minister in Bihar's history, was expected to meet the governor before 3 pm, a deadline set to allow the BJP to convene its legislature party meeting and elect a new leader in his place.

BJP, the Single Largest Party, Moves to Elect New Legislature Leader

With 89 seats in the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly, the BJP holds the position of single largest party and is now poised to lead the National Democratic Alliance government in the state. A BJP legislature party meeting was scheduled for 2 pm at the party office, to be followed by a broader NDA meeting.

The 202-strong NDA includes 85 MLAs of the JD(U), besides 19 of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and five of the Hindustani Awam Morcha, headed by Union ministers Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi, respectively. In addition, there are five MLAs of Rashtriya Lok Morcha, led by Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha.

BJP MLA Vinod Narayan Jha confirmed the sequence of events: “From 2 pm onwards, a meeting of the BJP Legislative Party will be held, after which there will be an NDA meeting. Our national leaders are coming here.”

BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santhosh arrived in Patna ahead of the meetings, signalling the central leadership's close oversight of the transition. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was named as the central observer for the legislature party election.

Bihar BJP State President Sanjay Saraogi confirmed that the NDA meeting would follow at 4 pm in the Central Hall of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, where the alliance's choice of legislature party leader would be formally ratified.

Nitish Kumar's Legacy: From Shame to Pride, Says JDU

Sanjay Kumar Jha, JDU National Working President and Rajya Sabha MP, offered an unambiguous assessment of Kumar's impact, “This is an emotional moment for the 140 million people of Bihar. We always say that we felt ashamed to say we are Bihari before Nitish ji's arrival, and after his arrival, Bihar's respect and prestige remained intact.”

Speaking to reporters, Jha was equally categorical about the continuity of Nitish Kumar's influence beyond office, asserting that “the present government and future administrations will continue to function under Nitish Kumar's guidance.”

State Minister Leshi Singh was quoted by ANI saying, "It is both an emotional and proud moment today. We have been with him (Nitish Kumar) since 1995."

The remarks come as political developments in Bihar have gained pace over leadership dynamics as the NDA will meet today at 4 pm in the Central Hall of the Bihar Legislative Assembly to chose Nitish's successor.