After the UP Assembly polls, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi will decide whether to continue as members of the Upper House of the state legislature for another term or contest in Assembly constituencies as their terms as MLCs end on May 6.
In the absence of any official word so far about the likely choice the two top leaders will make, political circles in Patna are abuzz with speculation that they may prefer contesting the Assembly polls this time to prove their personal popularity with the electorate like the chief ministers in Gujarat and West Bengal. With most past chief ministers in Bihar having represented the state legislature as MLAs, JD(U) stalwart Mr Kumar’s decision to remain an MLC while heading the state government has often been ridiculed by the Opposition parties.
Mr Kumar had refused to contest the 2010 Assembly polls saying he, as an MLC, will be always freely available for campaigning during the polls. But with his prime ministerial ambitions reportedly on a new high now as much as his party’s desire to see him as the NDA’s prime ministerial choice, he could contest in an Assembly constituency this time round to present “an exemplary proof of his personal hold” on the masses, said two JD(U) leaders. Mr Modi, of the BJP, is also likely to do the same, according to party sources.
“Chances are that he (Mr Kumar) will prefer to contest the Assembly poll instead of renewing his membership in the state legislative council this time. But a search for the best constituency for him is yet to begin because he is yet to give the final word on this matter,” said a senior JD(U) leader close to the chief minister.
With the terms as MLC of Mr Kumar, Mr Modi and 19 others, including two ministers from the JD(U), set for expiry between May 6 and May 9, there are already hectic lobbying by aspiring politicians in both the ruling parties for a berth in the Upper House.
Several leaders who defected from the Opposition parties to the JD(U) are hoping to become MLCs.