- By Chetna Shree
- Fri, 06 Mar 2026 09:10 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
With Chief Minister Nitish Kumar set to move to the Rajya Sabha, speculations over the next chief ministerial candidate of Bihar are intensifying in the political circles across the state. Amid these discussions, political activity within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gained pace, particularly around leaders who are seen as potential contenders for the top post.
Samrat Choudhary Emerges As Key Contender
The names of several senior leaders from the BJP are being discussed in the political circles as potential contenders for the chief minister's post in Bihar. Among them, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is widely considered a leading contender.
Choudhary is often seen as a backwards-class face within the party and has remained politically active across the state, which has contributed to his name coming up in the ongoing speculation.
Earlier, he had been associated with key parties such as Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD), Janata Dal United (JDU), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), before joining the BJP. Over the past two and a half decades, he has held various political and administrative roles in different capacities.
Nityanand Rai Names Among Discussion
The name of Nityanand Rai, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, is also being mentioned in discussions for the next chief ministerial candidate of Bihar. Rai has spent more than three decades in different roles within the Bharatiya Janata Party and its affiliated organisations.
He began his political journey through the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and later worked in the party’s Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. Rai has been serving as the Minister of State for Home Affairs in the central government for over a decade.
Rai is considered to have a strong organisational network and close working ties with the party’s central leadership, factors that have led to his name being mentioned among possible contenders.
ALSO READ: CM Rekha Gupta Reviews Development Projects Worth Rs 3,786 Crore Across Delhi
Eyes On Dilip Jaiswal
Dilip Jaiswal, the Industry and Road Construction Minister in Bihar, is also being seen as a leading contender for the chief minister's post in Bihar.
Within the party, Jaiswal had earlier served as the state treasurer, working alongside the then state president. He has been elected as the Bihar Legislative Councillor from the local authorities’ constituency for three consecutive terms. Jaiswal is considered a prominent BJP face in the Seemanchal region. He has around three decades of political experience.
Talks Of Cabinet Reshuffle
At the same time, talk of a broader cabinet reshuffle in Bihar has also gained traction. According to Jagran.com, sources in both government and party circles suggest that if a reorganisation of the administration takes place, the portfolios of some BJP ministers could be reassigned, while a few others may even be dropped from the cabinet.
Reports further suggest that caste and regional balance could be an important factor in the formation of a new government or any major reshuffle in Bihar. However, the final decision will be made at the central level.
(With Jagran.com Inputs)