Nitish Kumar, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16 and received his certificate of election the same day, is scheduled to take oath as a Member of Parliament on April 10
Nitish Kumar. File Pic
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday resigned from his membership in the Bihar Legislative Council, complying with constitutional requirements after being elected to the Rajya Sabha earlier this month. The move formally clears the way for his transition to Parliament, marking a significant shift in his decades-long political journey, reported news agency IANS.
Resignation in line with constitutional mandate
Nitish Kumar, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16 and received his certificate of election the same day, is scheduled to take oath as a Member of Parliament on April 10. As per constitutional provisions, any individual elected to Parliament must resign from their existing legislative position within 14 days. Failure to do so would result in the cancellation of their new membership, reported IANS.
Adhering to this rule, Nitish Kumar submitted his resignation on March 30. The resignation letter was formally handed over by Member of Legislative Council Sanjay Gandhi on his behalf, reported IANS.
End of a long tenure in Legislative Council
The resignation brings to a close Nitish Kumar’s long-standing association with the Bihar Legislative Council. He first became a member of the Upper House in 2006 and went on to serve four consecutive terms spanning nearly two decades — from 2006 to 2024, and into his current term before stepping down.
Since assuming office as Chief Minister in November 2005, Nitish Kumar has consistently held the post while being a member of the Legislative Council, rather than contesting Assembly elections. This approach has distinguished his tenure from many other state leaders.
Political journey across multiple legislative bodies
Before his tenure in the Council, Nitish Kumar had been elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Harnaut in 1985. He also served as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, further strengthening his experience across legislative platforms.
With his upcoming entry into the Rajya Sabha, he is set to achieve a rare distinction in Indian politics — having been a member of all four key legislative bodies: the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Lok Sabha, Legislative Council, and now the Rajya Sabha. This milestone highlights the breadth of his political career, which spans over four decades.
Implications for chief ministerial position
Following his resignation from the Legislative Council, constitutional norms require that Nitish Kumar relinquish his position as Chief Minister. However, provisions allow a chief minister to continue in office for up to six months without being a member of either House of the state legislature.
During this period, he will need to secure membership in either the Legislative Assembly or Council again, or explore an alternative political arrangement.
A new phase in Bihar politics
Nitish Kumar’s move to the Rajya Sabha signals the beginning of a new phase in his political career. His formal induction into the Upper House on April 10 is expected to influence both state and national political dynamics.
As Bihar navigates this transition, all eyes will be on the next steps taken by the veteran leader and how his shift to Parliament reshapes the state’s political landscape in the months ahead.
(With inputs from IANS)
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