Senior JDU leader Devesh Chandra Thakur on Sunday said he hoped Bihar Health Minister Nishant Kumar would “follow in the footsteps of his father”, Nitish Kumar, the party president, and go on to become the state’s chief minister. He made the remarks while speaking to journalists during Nishant Kumar’s visit to Sitamarhi, where JDU workers gave the minister an enthusiastic welcome across the district.
Asked if he saw Nishant Kumar as a possible future chief minister, Thakur said, “Why not? Politics is the art of the possible. May he rise to the greatest heights.” JDU workers present on the occasion also said they were confident that Nitish Kumar’s retirement from active politics had not left a vacuum and that they were in safe hands under Nishant Kumar’s leadership.
Thakur said, “Our leader, Nitish Kumar has done a lot for Bihar. His two-decade-long tenure as chief minister remains unparalleled. We hope that Nishant will follow in the footsteps of his father and win accolades in public life.” The senior JDU leader, a former state minister who has also headed the legislative council, made the remarks in response to questions from journalists.
Nishant Kumar, 45, entered politics in March this year, weeks before his father decided to contest the Rajya Sabha polls, bringing to an end his two-decade-long tenure as Bihar chief minister. Known for a humble disposition, Nishant Kumar had initially turned down an offer to join the new state government, headed by BJP’s Samrat Choudhary, as a deputy chief minister, but later accepted a cabinet berth after pressure from the JDU rank and file.
When Thakur was asked how he rated Nishant Kumar’s performance as health minister, he replied, “The young leader has just started off. It is rather childish to ask such a question at this juncture.” Nishant Kumar, who is known to be a man of few words, told reporters, “I am thrilled to visit Sitamarhi, the place where Goddess Sita was believed to have been discovered. I pray to her that I live up to the expectations of the people and work for every section of society, be it women, OBCs or EBCs, just like my father had done.”
The day saw Thakur openly back Nishant Kumar’s future in public life, while the minister’s Sitamarhi visit drew strong support from JDU workers and prompted expressions of confidence in his leadership.
– Ends
With PTI inputs
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Aug 23, 2026 23:30 IST
