Barely four months after beginning his record 10th term as Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar is set to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, sparking intense political discussions in Patna and speculation about a possible change in the state’s leadership.

The Janata Dal (United) leader is expected to reach the Assembly around 11:30 am along with other candidates from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to submit his nomination papers. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also scheduled to be in Patna, adding further significance to the political developments.

Ahead of the nomination, the Janata Dal (United) held several late-night meetings. Senior party leaders gathered at the residence of JDU leader Sanjay Jha, fuelling speculation about the party’s strategy and the possibility of a new government formation in the state.

The Rajya Sabha elections in Bihar involve five seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated its national president Nitin Nabin and state general secretary Shivesh Kumar as candidates. NDA ally Upendra Kushwaha, leader of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, is also contesting for another term.

From the JDU, Union minister Ramnath Thakur will also file his nomination as the party’s second candidate. Meanwhile, the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is expected to field a candidate for the fifth seat, which could lead to a closely watched contest.

Nitish Kumar’s move comes after the NDA’s strong victory in the Bihar Assembly elections. He was sworn in as Chief Minister on November 20, 2025, in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several chief ministers of NDA-ruled states.