New Delhi, March 5: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s decision to contest for a Rajya Sabha seat has sparked a political firestorm, with opposition leaders accusing him of betraying the very people who propelled him to power. Congress leader Udit Raj led the charge, labeling the move as a blatant act of treachery against Bihar’s economically backward classes (EBCs).
Raj minced no words, stating that Kumar rose to prominence on the back of EBC support but has delivered nothing substantial in over two decades. ‘He has failed to build universities or colleges, ignored special quotas, and merely conducted superficial drives,’ Raj fumed. He questioned the logic of a sitting Chief Minister seeking a Rajya Sabha berth, arguing it would render him irrelevant post-election. ‘This is a direct betrayal of the EBC community,’ he asserted.
The criticism didn’t stop there. Samajwadi Party spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand echoed similar sentiments, warning that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is using backdoor tactics to seize control of Bihar. ‘Governments were formed on Nitish’s name, but now BJP wants its own Chief Minister. This is alarming, as BJP-ruled states prioritize communal tensions over development,’ Chand said.
Kumar himself confirmed the reports via a post on X (formerly Twitter), expressing a long-held desire to serve in both houses of Parliament alongside Bihar’s legislature. ‘From the start of my parliamentary journey, I’ve wanted to be a member of both houses of Parliament, just as I have been in Bihar’s assembly,’ he wrote.
Meanwhile, Udit Raj also commented on Nepal’s upcoming 2026 elections, stressing the need for democracy in India’s neighborhood. ‘Democracy allows dialogue; dictatorship or anarchy stifles it. All parties must get a fair chance—Nepal desperately needs strong democratic institutions,’ he urged.
As Bihar’s political landscape shifts, Kumar’s Rajya Sabha bid raises questions about governance stability and the future of coalition politics in the state. Opposition voices are growing louder, painting this as a self-serving maneuver amid pressing developmental needs.