New Delhi/Patna: Nitish Kumar on Friday took oath as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha
The Janata Dal (United) leader was sworn in nearly a month after being elected to the Upper House on March 16. The oath ceremony was administered by Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Of India, CP Radhakrishnan at Parliament in New Delhi, in the presence of senior leaders including Union ministers and members from multiple parties.
Despite assuming his new role in Parliament, Nitish K
umar has not yet resigned as Bihar Chief Minister. He can continue as Bihar CM upto six months despite becoming a Rajya Sabha member as per Constitutional provisions. But rules state that he must resign as MLC within 14 days of being elected as MP, which he did last month.
Senior Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary stated that Kumar is likely to step down within “two to four days” after returning to Patna, following consultations and discussions with alliance leaders, reported HT. The process to select the next chief minister will then be initiated in accordance with NDA legislative procedures.
High-level meetings of BJP leaders are underway in Delhi to finalise the roadmap for Bihar’s new leadership, reported ANI. Party leaders have indicated that there are no differences within the NDA over the choice of the next chief minister, though no official announcement has been made so far.