Nitish Kumar Resigns as Bihar Chief Minister; BJP's Samrat Choudhary to Succeed Him

Patna: Nitish Kumar resigned as Chief Minister of Bihar on Tuesday, submitting his resignation to Governor Syed Ata Hasnain at Lok Bhavan. The 75-year-old leader, who has served as Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister, made the announcement after meeting the Governor following a Cabinet meeting, with Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, JDU National Working President Sanjay Jha, and state minister Vijay Choudhary present alongside him.

"I have done a great deal for the people of Bihar. I have decided to step down as Chief Minister. I met the Governor after today's Cabinet meeting and submitted my resignation. The new government will look after Bihar's affairs. I will extend my full cooperation and guidance to the new government," Nitish Kumar said.

The transfer of power marks the end of an era in Bihar politics. Nitish Kumar had first assumed the Chief Ministership in 2005 and has dominated the state's political landscape for two decades. He had earlier resigned his MLC membership after being elected to the Rajya Sabha.

Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary, a sitting MLA from Tarapur, will succeed him as Chief Minister — making him the first BJP Chief Minister in Bihar's history. Reports suggest that Nitish Kumar's son Nishant Kumar is unlikely to be included in the new Cabinet.