Bihar: Nitish Kumar's Son Unlikely to Enter Politics, Says JD-U, Denies Media Reports

Patna: Amid ongoing speculation over Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s only son, Nishant Kumar, likely to enter
politics, the ruling Janata Dal- United (JD-U) has made it clear that it is a mere rumour.
 

Since last week, hardly a day passes when one or another story does the rounds here about Nishant as the real successor of Nitish Kumar in JD-U, that he is set to join politics, when he will enter politics and his future in state politics. But on Tuesday, a senior JD-U leader ended all speculation, denying such reports.

“Neither Nitish Kumar nor his son have stated anything about it. The reports of Nishant set to join JD-U or enter politics is another example of how Nitish Kumar is main focus of news in Bihar”, said former minister and JD-U’s chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar.

Neeraj, who is considered close to Nitish Kumar, said the truth is that people of Bihar are set to elect Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister for the next five years (2025 to 2030). This has resulted in political indigestion for many. But it will not impact Nitish Kumar, who has been playing politics of development. Bihar Assembly elections are due later this year.

Interestingly, some local media have already started projecting Nishant as the “real successor” of Nitish Kumar in JD-U, who heads the party.

Among political circles, too, there is buzz over whether Nishant will or will not enter politics. Going by the
ground reality, he is neither in active politics nor has any interest or plan to enter politics in the near future.
 

The fresh buzz about Nishant got triggered after he appealed on January 8, 2025, to the people to elect his father again as Chief Minister on the basis of his work, mainly development.

This was the first time that Nishant, in his mid-40s, appealed to the people of Bihar seeking votes for his father to bring him back to power. “Pita Ji ne achcha kaam kiya hai, unhe hi vote kare aur phir se laye”, he told the media here on Friday, on the sidelines of an official function.

Though the next Bihar Assembly polls are months away, amid cold weather spell, this statement by Nishant has heated state politics. This development is being seen as a move to consolidate Nitish Kumar’s position within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as well as outside.

Recall that JD-U has already strongly asserted that there would be no compromise on the name of Bihar
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the leader of the NDA and chief ministerial candidate in the 2025 Assembly elections. JD-U's posters in Hindi read "Ekjut NDA, Ekjut Bihar, 2025 mein phir se Nitish Kumar". (United NDA, United Bihar, 2025 will see Nitish Kumar back).

After appealing to people, will Nishant campaign for his father’s JD-U in the forthcoming polls? When asked, JD-U leaders are reluctant to comment,

According to political watchers here, Nishant has tried to play the development card to seek votes and support for his father by highlighting some good work going in Bihar during his tenure. There is no doubt about development work in roads, electricity, water, health and education sectors in the past two decades of Nitish Kumar’s rule. But there are some shortcomings, too, like few job opportunities, slow industrialisation and rampant corruption, they said.

A senior JD-U leader said many leaders want Nishant to lead the party and emerge as real heir-apparent of Nitish Kumar. One leader recalled that last year, several
party leaders had demanded that Nishant be brought into politics to strengthen the party. They felt that a young leadership was the need of the hour and Nishant had all the qualities. ”But, it is up to Nitishji and Nishant”, he said, requesting anonymity.

So far, Nitish Kumar has been a loud votary against 'parivaarvad' (dynasty) in politics and Nishant has repeatedly ruled out entering politics. Hence, his appeal assumes significance. Unlike others, Nishant is a non- controversial figure, and like his father, is a trained engineer. Nitish Kumar takes pride in claiming that no one from his family is in politics like other leaders.

Nishant has stayed away from politics despite his father being in power in Bihar since 2005, except a few months in 2014 when Jitan Ram Manjhi was made Chief Minister.

With the Hindu month of ‘Kharmas', considered unauspicious ending on January 15, 2025, the ruling NDA as well as opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders have started campaigns to reach out to people.

There is speculation that if Nishant indeed joins politics, he will follow the path of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav
and Union Minister Chirag Paswan, who heads the Lok Janashakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Bihar Minister Santosh Suman, elder son of former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who is currently a state minister.

Tejashwi and Chirag represent established political families of Lalu Prasad and late Ram Vilas Paswan in Bihar.

Lalu Prasad's sons Tejpratap and Tejashwi, daughters Misa Bharti and Rohini Acharya, and wife Rabri Devi, a former CM, are in politics.

Chirag's brother-in-law Arun Bharti, who won the Jamui Lok Sabha seat this election, his estranged uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras and cousin Prince Raj are also in politics.
 

Manjhi’s son Santosh Suman is a minister in Bihar, his wife is an MLA and Manjhi’s samdhin (son/daughter’s mother-in-law) is also an MLA.

The writer is a freelancer based in Patna, Bihar.