BACK THEN, RAJNATH’S ARRIVAL SET THE STAGE, NOW SHIVERAJ SINGH CHAUHAN IS THE UMPIRE

BACK THEN, RAJNATH’S ARRIVAL SET THE STAGE, NOW SHIVERAJ SINGH CHAUHAN IS THE UMPIRE

14-APRIL-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-------------------------Before a Chief Minister is formally appointed, a leader of the NDA legislative party is elected. Just as it was a mere formality during Nitish Kumar's tenure, the process remains the same this time around. The only difference is that, on this occasion, the BJP must select the leader of its *own* legislative party to serve as Chief Minister.

Today marks a momentous day in Bihar politics. Nitish Kumar—who has occupied the Chief Minister's chair for nearly 25 years—is set to resign, thereby paving the way for a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party to become the state's Chief Minister for the very first time. By this evening, it will likely become clear how the BJP chooses to act upon his recommendation. If everything proceeds smoothly, the name will be announced today; otherwise, the suspense may well linger until tomorrow. It is widely reported that Nitish Kumar's preferred choice for the BJP Chief Minister is the current Deputy Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary. In this context, the role of a 'Raj' figure once again assumes critical importance. Much like Rajnath Singh stepped into a pivotal role following the 2020 Bihar elections, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has now arrived in Patna to perform a similar function.

In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, the JD(U) emerged as the smaller partner, while the BJP emerged as the significantly larger party. At that time, Nitish Kumar had offered the Chief Minister's post to the BJP; however, the party insisted that since the election had been contested with him as their public face, he—and he alone—should continue to serve as Chief Minister. When Nitish Kumar eventually agreed to assume the Chief Ministership, he did so on the specific condition that Sushil Kumar Modi would serve as his Deputy Chief Minister. Prior to that instance, whenever Nitish Kumar had served as the NDA's Chief Minister, Sushil Modi had invariably been his Deputy. However, in 2020, the BJP found itself in a state of internal deliberation and uncertainty. The party was in an experimental mood. Just as Shivraj Singh Chouhan has arrived on the scene this time, Rajnath Singh was dispatched from Delhi to handle the situation back then. The BJP's MLAs and MLCs waited in anticipation for the ensuing discussions. Rajnath Singh did indeed arrive in Patna, though the BJP's internal meeting ultimately proved to be a mere formality. Rajnath Singh intervened and successfully persuaded Nitish Kumar to accept a new arrangement, under which Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi—rather than Sushil Modi—would serve as the Deputy Chief Ministers. Sushil Modi was subsequently sent to the Rajya Sabha. Some time later, he fell ill and eventually passed away. Union Minister and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has arrived in Patna on this occasion to oversee the election of the BJP Legislative Party leader for the formation of a new government in Bihar. Preparations are underway to install a BJP Chief Minister in the state for the very first time. It is he who will give concrete shape to these preparations; in other words, the BJP will select the leader destined to become the Chief Minister. As is customary, it is widely believed that the BJP headquarters has already finalized the name, and Shivraj Singh Chouhan has arrived merely to secure the Legislative Party's formal ratification of that choice—much as Rajnath Singh did in 2020. Nevertheless, since it is a procedural formality, it must be observed.

With the resignation of the Chief Minister, the formal dissolution of the Bihar Legislative Assembly will be completed. Samrat Choudhary was elected as the leader of the BJP Legislative Party following the 2025 Bihar elections; he continues to hold that position. Following the dissolution of the Assembly, the BJP will undertake the formality of electing a new leader for its legislative wing. The BJP had 89 elected MLAs; however, following the resignation of Nitin Nabin, that number currently stands at 88. These 88 MLAs will play the pivotal role in this process, although BJP Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) are also expected to be present at the meeting. Other senior party leaders will, of course, be in attendance as well. Shivraj Singh Chouhan will present the name finalized by the BJP headquarters before the gathering, and the announcement will be made once a consensus has been reached. While the BJP typically faces little risk of internal dissent, special security measures are nonetheless being implemented at the party's state headquarters and for its key leaders in anticipation of the announcement. Given that approximately 20 different names have been speculated upon as potential candidates for the new Chief Minister's post since Nitish Kumar announced his intention to move to the Rajya Sabha, the political atmosphere remains charged with intense anticipation.