By Vishwapati
Patna: In a significant development in Bihar politics, Nishant Kumar, the son of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is poised to step into active politics through the upcoming assembly elections. Sources within the Janata Dal United [JD(U)] have confirmed this move, with the Harnaut assembly seat in Nalanda district being considered the safest option for his political debut. Recently, JD(U) workers have been increasingly active in the area, further fuelling speculation about Nishant’s entry.
The Bihar assembly elections are scheduled to take place by November this year, and the buzz around Nishant’s potential candidacy has already gained momentum. Over the past few days, political circles in Bihar have been abuzz with discussions about his foray into politics. Now, Nishant himself has dropped strong hints about his intentions.
Speaking to the media, Nishant made a heartfelt appeal to the youth and people from all sections of society to support his father, Nitish Kumar, in the upcoming elections. He said, “Through the media, I urge the youth and every section of society to vote for my father because he has transformed Bihar. In the last election, the people gave us 43 seats, and despite that, he continued the development work. This time, it’s crucial to increase the number of seats so that the development momentum can be sustained in the future.”
Nishant also called upon JD(U) workers to actively highlight the work done by his father over the past 19 years. “Our party workers must take my father’s achievements to the people. The public should know what has been accomplished. Only then will they understand his worth. The NDA should declare my father as the Chief Minister, and the workers must strive with full strength to ensure that Bihar’s development journey continues,” he added.
When asked by journalists about his own political entry, Nishant neither confirmed nor denied the speculation. Instead, he said with a smile, “Let’s leave it to the public’s court. They will decide what needs to be done.” He then laughed and moved on, deftly sidestepping further questions. This marked a notable shift in Nishant’s approach, as he has previously avoided media interactions. His confident responses and the statement that “the public will decide” have been interpreted as a clear indication of his intention to contest the elections.
JD(U) insiders suggest that Nishant is likely to contest from the Harnaut assembly seat in Nalanda district, the same constituency where his father, Nitish Kumar, began his political career. Nitish Kumar had won his first election from this seat, making it a symbolic choice for Nishant’s political debut.
As Bihar gears up for the assembly elections, all eyes are now on Nishant Kumar and his potential role in shaping the state’s political landscape. His entry into politics could mark a new chapter for the JD(U) and the Kumar family’s legacy in Bihar.
The author, Vishwapati, is a senior journalist based in Patna. He may be contacted at vishwapati25@gmail.com
