Why Nitish Kumar is exiting Bihar politics just months after taking oath as CM

• Nitish Kumar resigns as Bihar CM, cites health concerns
• JD(U) may see a succession plan, with son Nishant in focus
• BJP may appoint new Bihar CM after Nitish's departure

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Nitish Kumar took oath as the chief minister of Bihar for a record 10th time on November 20, 2025. Mere three-and-a-half months later, the JD(U) supremo bid adieu to Bihar politics and announced that he wants to contest the Rajya Sabha elections.

The sudden exit of Bihar’s most influential politician of the past two decades from state politics has sparked intense buzz within JD(U) and the opposition ranks. It has also prompted a puzzling question: Why would Nitish take oath as the chief minister, only to resign a few months later?

Among the key reasons being cited for the decision is Nitish's deteriorating health.

According to a report in The Indian Express, sources said that the JD(U) leadership was forced to take a decision on Nitish due to health concerns which plagued him throughout his last term as the chief minister.

"The CM has been facing serious health issues and there is a general impression that it’s the bureaucracy that’s running Bihar now,” the report said, citing a source. Several videos from the Bihar chief minister's recent public appearances had been raising concerns over Nitish Kumar's health.

Notably, the announcement also comes just four days after Nitish turned 75.

A BJP leader told the newspaper that even though Nitish's exit makes for poor optics, the decision will be beneficial in the long run since the state government has the entire term left before it.

Another reason being cited for Nitish's exit is a possible succession plan within the JD(U). Speculation is rife that Nitish's son, Nishant, may begin his political innings soon by becoming the deputy chief minister of Bihar.

A BJP-JD(U) role reversal

Nitish's exit from Bihar politics also gives BJP a chance to install its own chief minister in the state. The Indian Express report said that the new Bihar CM will most likely be from BJP.

Over the last few years, BJP has become the dominant political force in Bihar and decisively replaced JD(U) as the big brother in the NDA.

Though it won more seats than JD(U) in both the 2025 and 2020 Bihar elections, the NDA persisted with Nitish as the chief minister due to his widespread popularity in the state and concerns that dislodging the leader may lead to instability. Thus, the NDA contested the polls under Nitish Kumar, whose women-centric schemes, 'sushasan' babu image and overall popularity helped it sail through the recent polls.

However, Nitish's health had routinely sparked concerns over his longevity in state politics and drew sharp questions from the opposition — concerns that may have become too difficult to ignore.