Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday resigned from office, marking a major political transition in the state and effectively ending his tenure as the head of the state government. The resignation comes after he chaired the final meeting of his cabinet at 11 a.m. before formally submitting his resignation to the Governor, paving the way for a new government formation.

Following his resignation, the ruling political realignment in Bihar is set to bring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to the helm of the state government for the first time with its own Chief Minister. The BJP, which holds 89 seats in the 243-member Bihar Assembly as the single largest party, convened a legislature party meeting to decide on its leadership for the next government.

The transition process is now underway, with a swearing-in ceremony for the new Chief Minister and Council of Ministers scheduled to take place at Raj Bhavan on April 15 at 11 a.m. Among the frontrunners for the top post is Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, a prominent OBC leader and state BJP president, whose elevation would mark a significant political development in Bihar’s power structure.

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Nitish Kumar, who has been one of Bihar’s most influential political figures for over two decades, is the state’s longest-serving Chief Minister and has taken oath an unprecedented ten times. His political career has been defined by shifting alliances, having governed both with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Mahagathbandhan at different points.

Over the years, Kumar’s governance has been associated with several welfare initiatives, including schemes focused on girls’ education and prohibition policies, which helped him maintain a strong support base among key voter groups, particularly women. His recent decision to move to the Rajya Sabha marked a clear shift away from state politics and toward a national role.

With his resignation, Bihar enters a new political phase as the BJP prepares to assume leadership of the state government, ending an era defined by Nitish Kumar’s long and influential tenure. The upcoming oath-taking ceremony is expected to formally establish the new administration and set the tone for the state’s next political chapter.

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