Nitish Kumar to get Z-Plus security

Amid intense speculation that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may take oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha on April 10, he has been provided Z-plus security cover, according to a State government notification. Political circles in the State have been abuzz with reports that Mr. Kumar could subsequently step down as Chief Minister on April 12, with a new Chief Minister possibly taking oath on April 14. Mr. Kumar had recently resigned from the membership of the Bihar Legislative Council on March 30.

According to a Bihar government notification issued on March 30, 2026, “since Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would resign from his post and take oath as a Rajya Sabha member in future, the decision has been taken to provide him Z-plus security”. As Chief Minister, Mr. Kumar already enjoys special security cover under the Bihar Special Security Act, which is said to be modelled on the Special Protection Group Act meant for the security of the Prime Minister of India, former Prime Ministers, and their immediate family members.

The notification also said the decision was taken in view of Mr. Kumar’s imminent election to the Rajya Sabha, after which he may resign as Chief Minister. Mr. Kumar was elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16 and resigned as a member of the State Legislative Council on March 30. The term of five outgoing Rajya Sabha members will end on April 9, and Mr. Kumar, along with four others, including Nitin Nabin, may take oath as new members on April 10.

Meanwhile, political speculation continues in the power corridors of the State that Mr. Kumar, after taking oath as a Rajya Sabha member on April 10, may resign as Bihar Chief Minister on April 12. A meeting of legislators of the National Democratic Alliance is likely to be held in Patna on April 13 to decide on the next Chief Minister. A select group of legislators may then meet the Governor to stake claim to form the new government. The new Chief Minister of Bihar may take oath the following day, on April 14, a ruling NDA source said.

“It’s all mere political speculations…nobody knows what will happen tomorrow but yes, Bihar is going to miss Chief Minister Nitish Kumar…we all will miss him who acted not as our leader but also as our guardian,” a senior leader of the Janata Dal (United) and Cabinet colleague of Mr. Kumar said. Several other JD(U) leaders echoed similar sentiments. Leaders of the ruling coalition partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), also recalled the “able leadership” of Mr. Kumar in the State, adding, “Bihar prospered under his regime”.

Mr. Kumar has also recently been elected president of the JD(U) for the fourth time and is likely to convene a meeting of the party’s national council and executive committee in April in Patna. It could be the first time Mr. Kumar addresses the party’s national executive committee meeting without being Chief Minister of the State.

Earlier, Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, alleged that Mr. Kumar was not resigning as Chief Minister but was being forced to be “removed” by the BJP. He added that in doing so the BJP had “not only deceived Mr. Kumar but also the people of Bihar”.

Meanwhile, the names of several BJP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar, and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Pramod Kumar Chandravanshi, are doing the rounds in State political circles as possible contenders for the post of Chief Minister. “Nobody knows who would be the next Chief Minister of the State as all are shooting arrow in the air but, one thing is clear that the next Chief Minister of Bihar would be from the BJP and the party will have its CM for the first time in the state,” a BJP leader and former Minister in Mr. Kumar’s Cabinet said on condition of anonymity.