North India Statesman
News India Live, Digital Desk: These days the discussion of ‘resignation’ is in full swing in Bihar politics. After the election of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to the Rajya Sabha, the stir in the political circles of the state has intensified. The entanglement with the rules of the Constitution and the People’s Representation Act has raised the question whether Nitish Kumar will have to leave the post of Chief Minister immediately? However, according to the latest reports and legal experts, Nitish Kumar can remain on the post of Chief Minister for the next 6 months, but he will have to take a major decision by 30th March.
Why is ‘first resignation’ necessary by March 30?
According to the provision of the Constitution, no person can be a member of two houses (Legislative Council and Rajya Sabha) simultaneously. Nitish Kumar has been elected to Rajya Sabha on 16 March. The rules say it is mandatory for a member to resign from the old House within 14 days of being elected. Since Nitish Kumar is currently a member of the Bihar Legislative Council (MLC), he will have to give up his MLC membership by March 30. Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar has also clarified that the Chief Minister will have to submit his resignation by March 30.
Will the Chief Minister’s chair go away as soon as he resigns?
The biggest question in the minds of the general public is whether Nitish Kumar will no longer be the Chief Minister as soon as he leaves the post of MLC on March 30? The answer is ‘no’. According to constitutional provisions, any person can hold the post of Chief Minister for 6 months even without being a member of any House. That means, even after leaving the post of MLC, Nitish Kumar can take charge of Bihar till September 2026. However, during this period he will have to become a member of any House again, which does not seem possible in case of going to Rajya Sabha.
Murmurs of new formula between BJP and JDU
After Nitish Kumar’s decision to go to Rajya Sabha, speculation is intense about the new Chief Minister in Bihar. There is talk in political circles that Nitish Kumar may resign from the post of Chief Minister by mid-April after completing his ‘Samriddhi Yatra’. Churning is going on in the NDA camp regarding new faces, in which speculations are being made on names like Nitin Naveen and Samrat Chaudhary from BJP. At the same time, unconfirmed news of Nitish’s son Nishant Kumar joining active politics from JDU is also heating up the atmosphere.
