Who will take over as CM of Bihar after Nitish?
Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha on March 5, 2026, in Patna. This move signifies his transition to national politics after leading Bihar for over two decades, making way for a potential new Chief Minister from the BJP. Nitish Kumar filed his papers alongside BJP national president Nitin Navin, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah present.
For the first time, Bihar will have a BJP CM, but the question is which BJP leader will be crowned with power? Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has now decided to go to Rajya Sabha.
Four names from BJP are doing the rounds to step into CM Nitish Kumar's shoes - Samrat Choudhary, Nityanand Rai, Sanjiv Chaurasia and Dilip Jaiswal.
Samrat Choudhary: Born on November 16, 1968, is a prominent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Bihar who serves as a Deputy Chief Minister (as of early 2024). He is a seasoned politician from a political family, belonging to the OBC Koeri Kushwaha caste.
He has held positions as a Deputy CM in Bihar and serves as a key leader for the BJP. He is Son of former MLA and MP Shakuni Choudhary. He has been a significant OBC face for the BJP in Bihar, strengthening his position within the party. He is second most powerful person in the state cabinet.
Nityanand Rai: Currently serving as the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, is considered a top contender for the Chief Minister of Bihar position, particularly as the BJP looks to establish its own leadership in the state. As of early March 2026, he is frequently mentioned in political circles alongside Samrat Choudhary as a potential successor if the current political structure changes.
He is a senior BJP leader, former President of the Bihar BJP unit (appointed in 2016), and has a long-standing career within the party and the Sangh Parivar. He has substantial legislative experience, having been elected as an MLA for the Bihar Assembly from the Hajipur constituency four times (2000, 2005, 2010). He has also served as a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Ujiarpur.
Born in 1966 into a farmer's family in Vaishali, Bihar, he belongs to the Yadav community, making him a strategic choice to strengthen the BJP's base among this group. He is considered close to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and is viewed as a key organization man within the state.
Sanjiv Chaurasia: A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member and former MLA for Digha, Bihar (2015), holds the necessary constitutional, age, and legal qualifications for the Chief Minister post. He is a citizen, over 25, and holds a Ph.D. from Ranchi University (2006). However, he is not currently the declared CM candidate for the BJP in Bihar.
He is a BJP member and was elected as an MLA for Digha, Bihar in 2015. The current leadership of the BJP in Bihar is focused on figures like Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha.
Dilip Kumar Jaiswal: He is a prominent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Bihar, currently serving as the Industries Minister in the Bihar government (as of Nov 2025) and previously as the Bihar BJP state president. He is considered a strong contender or potential face for the Chief Minister position within the NDA alliance, particularly as the BJP looks to diversify its leadership base in the state.
Jaiswal is a three-time Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) in Bihar. He has extensive organizational experience, having served as the Bihar BJP state president and as the treasurer of the state unit for over 15 years. He currently holds the cabinet rank as the Minister of Industries in the Bihar government.
He belongs to the Vaishya-Bania community, making him a key figure for the BJP in balancing caste equations in Bihar. He has been the in-charge of Sikkim BJP and has been active in strengthening the party's grassroots in Bihar.
👉This blog post about the next CM of Bihar is purely a prediction.