Bihar Power Play: Why Patna Corridors Buzzing with Possibilities
NDA Elects Nitish Kumar as leader in Bihar in a meeting on Wednesday. (Image JD (U) on X)
Speaker’s post, cabinet equations, and rumours of a future BJP CM sharpen tensions as Bihar’s new government enters a volatile phase.
By MANISH ANAND
New Delhi, November 22, 2025 — Bihar’s political theatre has turned turbulent once again. Elections are over, results are declared, and Nitish Kumar has taken oath as Chief Minister for a record tenth time — yet the real battle for power has only just begun. Patna’s political corridors are buzzing after the dramatic shift that saw the crucial Home Ministry move out of Nitish Kumar’s hands for the first time in two decades and into the portfolio of BJP’s Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
In Bihar’s political grammar, the Home Ministry is not just another department — it is the heartbeat of administrative control and law-and-order authority. For Nitish Kumar to lose this portfolio after twenty years has triggered intense speculation about the BJP’s long-term plans.
Now, another flashpoint has emerged: the race for Bihar Assembly Speaker.
The BJP argues that since the previous Speaker was from their party, the post should remain with them. JD (U) insists that after surrendering the politically sensitive Home Ministry to the BJP, the Speaker’s chair should return to them. Names are being floated — including senior BJP MLA Prem Kumar, a seasoned Dalit leader — but insider sources suggest the JD (U)’s claim is unlikely to prevail.
Complicating matters further is the delay in convening the Assembly session. Before a full Speaker is elected, a Pro-tem Speaker must administer the oath to all newly elected MLAs. Only then can voting for the new Speaker take place. The winter session, usually held in the first week of December, is now expected to carry this critical electoral exercise.
Why is the Speaker’s election so crucial?
Because the Speaker holds quasi-judicial powers under the anti-defection law — powers that can make or break governments. From Karnataka to Madhya Pradesh, delayed decisions by Speakers allowed new BJP-led governments to form despite mass defections. Bihar, with its tight numbers and fragile alliances, is no exception.
With the BJP and its allied smaller parties inching close to a majority on their own, whispers are getting louder: Will Nitish Kumar really stay Chief Minister for five full years?
His supporters argue that the BJP, lacking a full Lok Sabha majority, cannot afford to alienate JD (U). But political observers note that the BJP has enough MPs from other parties to run the central government — reducing its dependency on JD (U).
And then comes the symbolism: the Home Ministry in BJP hands. For many, it signals a decisive shift in Bihar’s power equation. Some in the JD (U) fear a “big brother” attitude from the BJP, potentially weakening Nitish Kumar’s authority from within.
The narrative is further sharpened by questions surrounding Samrat Choudhary’s administrative capability. Opposition strategist Prashant Kishor has publicly accused him of facing several criminal allegations — raising doubts about whether senior IPS officers will accept his leadership. Meanwhile, Bihar’s law-and-order situation has worsened in recent years, with rising cases of murders, robberies, and daylight crimes.
Amid this, a larger question looms: Is Samrat Choudhary’s appointment part of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s long-term plan to reshape Bihar’s policing and deliver on his electoral promise to “identify and remove infiltrators”?
With so many moving parts, Bihar’s power puzzle remains unsolved. Speaker election, cabinet balance, and the BJP-JD (U) equation will determine not just who governs — but how long they last.
For now, Patna’s political corridors are heating up again, with every move watched, dissected and interpreted.
(This is an opinion piece, and views expressed are those of the author only)
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