BJP’s Nitin Nabin Bet Could Trigger a Strategic Bihar Pivot

Within the scope of the NDA unity, the BJP will examine the ways to take leadership of the government at an opportune time

By MANISH ANAND

New Delhi, December 15, 2025 — Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) working president Nitin Nabin on Monday too charge of the post after he was accorded a rousing welcome at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah and Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, the two immediate predecessors of Nabin, showered praises on the new face of the outfit.

Elevation of Nabin from a Bihar Cabinet Minister to the BJP working president has sent power corridors buzzing in Patna. Observers believe that the BJP has sent out a loud message to Bihar with Nabin’s appointment as the working president of the party.

The BJP top brass has sought to reward the party base in Bihar by elevating Nabin to the highest post of the saffron outfit. At the same time, the BJP with the decision has settled the debate around party lacking a face in Bihar. As Nabin gains national stature, the BJP in Bihar may be emboldened to aim for the power command in Patna.

With the Bihar verdict almost making Opposition redundant in Bihar, the BJP leaders in the state believe that the party is far closer to take the post of the Chief Minister than ever. Now the BJP with just one decision has given a Bihar-based party leader a stature which may be seen higher than that of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The BJP leaders argue that the party will after a few months begin exploring the idea of nudging Nitish Kumar to cede the Chief Minister’s post. They argue that the BJP could offer an honourable exit to Nitish Kumar to match his stature.

With the BJP already giving enough signals to the Janata Dal (United) by taking the posts of state Home Minister and the Assembly Speaker in Bihar, the party leaders argue that incumbent Chief Minister has already seen the writing on the wall. “The ball is in the court of the top brass of the BJP. Nabin’s appointment as working president of the BJP is a signal to Nitish Kumar. May be after a year, the Chief Minister will address the issue on his own and consult the BJP leaders on the succession plan,” said a senior BJP functionary from Bihar.

The leaders of the saffron outfit argue that while Nitish Kumar has been the NDA face in Bihar, the mandate has made it clear that the BJP is a senior party in a true sense. “Within the scope of the NDA unity, the BJP will examine the ways to take leadership of the government at an opportune time,” opined another senior BJP functionary from Bihar.

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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