Nitish Kumar takes Rajya Sabha oath, PM Modi calls him a pillar of good governance

New Delhi witnessed a significant political moment on Friday as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha , marking a major transition in his long political journey.

The oath was administered by Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan in his chamber during a brief ceremony. Kumar took the oath in Hindi in the presence of senior leaders including Union Minister and Leader of the House J P Nadda, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal.

Several political leaders, including JDU leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, and BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy, were also present at the ceremony, underlining the significance of the occasion .

Soon after the oath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Nitish Kumar, describing him as one of the country’s most experienced leaders . He praised Kumar’s commitment to good governance and said his long political experience would further strengthen the dignity of Parliament .

The Prime Minister also highlighted Kumar’s contribution to Bihar’s development and expressed confidence that his presence in the Rajya Sabha would enrich parliamentary proceedings . Modi recalled his earlier roles as a Member of Parliament and Union Minister, calling his return to Parliament a valuable moment for national politics .

In a separate message, Modi also congratulated Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh on his nomination to the Upper House, praising his work in journalism and public life and his contribution to parliamentary debates .

The development comes at a politically sensitive moment in Bihar, as Kumar’s shift to Parliament signals a major leadership transition in the state. Political circles indicate that the NDA is likely to decide a new Chief Minister around April 14 , setting the stage for a new phase in Bihar politics.

While Nitish Kumar has not officially resigned yet, he is expected to step down as Chief Minister between April 13 and 14, 2026 , as part of a planned transition within the NDA.

His move to the Rajya Sabha is widely seen as the beginning of a structured leadership change in Bihar, marking the end of an era in state politics and the start of a new political arrangement.