Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s decision to move to the Rajya Sabha may result in an “ideological takeover” of the State’s politics and a shift within the political discourse, CPI(ML) Liberation normal secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya stated on Sunday (March 8, 2026), calling it a “betrayal of the people of Bihar”.
According to sources, Mr. Bhattacharya alleged that the event mirrored the rising dominance of the BJP over its ally Janata Dal (United) and will alter Bihar’s political panorama.
“I think this will mean some kind of a political takeover, not just a takeover of power, but also a change of discourse in Bihar and may be north India,” he stated.
Calling the event a “big shock”, the Left chief stated the style through which it was unfolding appeared “very disrespectful” in direction of Kumar.
“People knew that the BJP is now effectively controlling the government, but the way it is happening is a kind of disrespectful dumping of Nitish Kumar,” he stated, including that many citizens may really feel “cheated” because the alliance had sought a mandate in Mr. Kumar’s identify.
Mr. Kumar, the JD(U) chief, on Thursday (March 5, 2026) introduced that he can be contesting the Rajya Sabha polls, bringing the curtains down on his tenure as Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister. The transfer comes months after he led the NDA to a landslide victory in the Assembly elections held in November final 12 months.
The CPI(ML) Liberation is a member of the opposition Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) in Bihar, which incorporates the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress.
Mr. Bhattacharya alleged that the individuals really feel that it has been some form of a coup engineered over a time frame from inside the JD(U) round Nitish Kumar, including the event may deepen unease inside the JD(U), with many within the celebration apprehensive about its future.
“Within JD(U), they can see that this is how the party is almost being gobbled up by the BJP. So this is a power game of the BJP, and it’s not going to go down well,” he stated.
According to him, though the JD(U) had been in alliance with the BJP for years, it had largely remained aligned with what he described because the “social justice camp”.
“Nitish Kumar always used to say that he would not compromise with the communal forces. Now that will go, and that will mean complete ideological subsumption of the JD(U) by the BJP,” he added.
He questioned the said cause behind Mr. Kumar’s determination to maneuver to the Rajya Sabha, saying it was tough to consider that it was a long-standing aspiration of the veteran chief.
“Going to the Rajya Sabha cannot be some kind of a lifetime achievement award for someone who has been at the helm of affairs in Bihar for two decades,” Mr. Bhattacharya stated.
“At one time, he was seen as a Prime Ministerial aspirant, and now we are told Rajya Sabha was his aspiration. Nothing could be flimsier than this,” he added.
He additional alleged the transfer mirrored the BJP’s try and undertaking its political dominance. “It shows the language of power of the BJP. They think they enjoy complete power and they can be blunt about it,” he stated.
Asked if the event may assist opposition events, Mr. Bhattacharya stated the political scenario had turn out to be clearer. “The question is not whether it helps or not. This is the reality and the opposition and the people will have to come to terms with it,” he stated.
He additionally alleged that the State Government had begun functioning alongside the traces of what he described as “bulldozer rule”. “Demolitions have started, land acquisition is going on… Women have never before felt this insecure like in Bihar today,” he claimed.
Mr. Bhattacharya stated points resembling unemployment, rural employment and social justice may set off wider political mobilisation within the State. “Bihar is very sensitive and alive to the agenda of social justice. I can see a greater churning among the people on these issues,” he stated.
On the opportunity of management change within the State, he stated the transition may not be clean, particularly if the BJP tried to put in its personal Chief Minister.
Watch | After two decades as CM, Nitish Kumar moves to Rajya Sabha
Published – March 08, 2026 08:13 pm IST
