Upendra dismisses speculations over Nitish becoming Rajya Sabha member

Patna, April 1 : Amid ongoing debate on new power equations taking shape after possible chances of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar opting to become member of Rajya Sabha, JD(U) parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha dismissed such probabilities saying Kumar is Chief Minister and he would remain so till 2025. Kushwaha tweeted that Kumar had got the mandate of the people to serve the state for five years till 2025. The mandate was given to Kumar by the people in 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, he noted. ” As per the mandate, Kumar is Chief Minister of Bihar and he would remain so till the year 2025″, JD(U) leader maintained. Nitish Ji would not go anywhere, he remarked. Speculations started doing rounds in political circles when Chief Minister Kumar during an informal interactions with media persons two days back, had casually remarked that he had been member of Lok Sabha, Bihar Assembly and Bihar Legislative Council. Only Rajya Sabha was left where he did not get opport ty to reach during his long political career, he had added. His remark had left political analysts guessing whether Kumar would leave the Bihar politics to make space for a BJP leader to head NDA government. At present BJP is the largest party in Assembly with 77 members followed by RJD with 75 and JD(U) with 45 members. BJP while showing large heart and honouring public commitment made in 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, had offered the post of CM to Kumar despite JD(U) bagging only 43 seats. NDA government comprising BJP, JD(U) and HAM, is being headed by Chief Minister Kumar. HAM has strength of 4 members in Assembly. Magic figure is 122 in 243 member Bihar Assembly to form the government while NDA has combine strength of 126. Chief Minister Kumar had, however, himself dismissed the speculations saying no such personal ambition was left for him. JD(U) leader Kushwaha tried to set all such speculations at rest by saying that Kumar would remain CM till 2025. KKS BM