JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar's son Nishant Kumar will embark on a yatra across Bihar starting from West Champaran next month. A decision on any key party post will be taken only after the yatra, sources said. Nishant is viewed as the party's long-term leader but has not yet assumed any major role.
Nishant Kumar made his full-fledged political entry ahead of Nitish Kumar's election to the Rajya Sabha and resignation as Bihar chief minister. On Wednesday, JD(U) retained Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha as national working president. It elevated former Jehanabad MP and EBC leader Chandeshwar Prasad Chandravanshi to national vice president, placing him third after Nitish Kumar and Jha. Former IAS officer Manish Verma was retained as national general secretary.
Since Nitish Kumar's resignation as chief minister, JD(U) has balanced roles in government and the party organisation. Senior leaders Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Vijay Kumar Choudhary were appointed deputy chief ministers without a legislature party meeting. Eight-time Nalanda MLA Shravan Kumar was elected as the party’s leader in the assembly. Speculation had swirled around Nishant for a deputy CM post, but he opted out at the last minute, sources said.
A JD(U) source said, “Nishant Kumar has been preparing himself. He is putting himself under probation. He will meet people during the yatra and draw strength from the field, rather than taking up a key position straight away. He may take an important party position in due course.”
Party spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said, “Nishant Kumar is our leader by consensus choice. Whether he holds a key position in the government or party organisation is immaterial. He has been meeting party functionaries and common workers daily to pass on the message of following up on the progress of several flagship schemes started by former CM Nitish Kumar. Nishant Kumar will tour across Bihar to find resonance with the people and Nitish Kumar’s legacy.”
Nishant still has a chance to join the Bihar Legislative Council, with two-thirds of seats falling vacant soon. He could later become the legislature party leader or parliamentary board chairperson. Nitish Kumar does not want to place Nishant under the scanner by giving him a prominent position outright.
