Who to be next Bihar CM? BJP likely to declare face for top post on Tuesday | India News

New Delhi: BJP leaders in Bihar said on Monday that the identity of the party’s first Chief Minister in the state will be known on Tuesday, as Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is expected to arrive in Patna to oversee the transfer of power.Chouhan, appointed by the BJP high command as the central observer for the election of the new legislature party leader, will visit Bihar on a day when JD(U) president Nitish Kumar is expected to resign as chief minister.Kumar, Bihar’s longest-serving chief minister, turned 75 last month and was sworn in as a Rajya Sabha MP a week ago. He is expected to submit his resignation at Raj Bhavan shortly after his final cabinet meeting at 11 am, where he is expected to formally announce his decision to leave office.“Shivraj Singh Chauhan ji is coming to Patna tomorrow and BJP MLAs will elect their leader in his presence,” party’s Bihar unit president Sanjay Saraogi told news agency PTI.The change in leadership will mark a milestone for the BJP, which is set to get its first chief minister in Bihar, the only Hindi heartland state where the top post has so far eluded the party. Still, party leaders are cautious in their public statements.Dilip Jaiswal, a minister and former Bihar BJP president, said, “This is an emotional moment for us. We hope that Nitish Kumar will continue his guidance to the new government.”The NDA secured a strong majority with 202 seats in the 243-member Bihar Assembly. BJP has 89 seats, followed by JD(U) with 85 seats, while allies LJP(RV), HAM and RLM remain.Refusing to speculate on who will be chosen as leader, Jaiswal said, “It is the collective prerogative of the legislative party. I should not hazard any guesses. Let Shivraj Singh Chouhan come tomorrow. All will be clear.”Neither Saraogi nor Jaiswal has commented on the swearing-in ceremony, although speculation is rife that it could take place on April 14, with reports suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may attend.Among the front-runners, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chowdhury is widely seen as a major contender. Chaudhary, who also holds the important home portfolio, had earlier described Union Home Minister Amit Shah as destined to be a “big man”.However, critics within the party point out that Chaudhary is not a lifelong member of the Sangh family, having spent almost two decades in rival parties including RJD and JD(U). They also noted that he had already been appointed leader of the legislature party in November, suggesting that a fresh election could signal that the BJP is considering alternative names.Another strong contender is Union Minister of State for Home Nityananda Rai, who started his political career as an ABVP activist during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and later served as Bihar BJP president before joining the Union Cabinet in 2019.Party insiders told PTI that the new chief minister is likely to be from the OBC or Dalit community, as the BJP is confident of retaining its upper-caste base but seeks to shore up support among other social groups shaped by Mandal-era politics in Bihar’s caste-sensitive political landscape.Meanwhile, attention is also focused on Nitish Kumar’s only son Nishant, who joined the JD(U) last month.Some JD(U) leaders have suggested that the 44-year-old, who is not yet a member of the state assembly, could be inducted into the new cabinet as deputy chief minister. Others believe that Nitish Kumar, who reportedly allowed his son’s political entry only under pressure from party workers, would prefer to gain experience before taking on a bigger post.For now, the father and son seem to be taking the transition in stride, as their belongings are being shifted to another government bungalow near 1, Ann Marg, the Chief Minister’s official residence ready to welcome a new resident.