Patna| June 11
Bihar Health Minister Nishant Kumar’s election affidavit for the upcoming Bihar Legislative Council (MLC) polls has brought his educational qualifications and financial profile into public focus. The affidavit reveals that Nishant, son of former Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, did not complete his engineering degree, a disclosure that has sparked political debate ahead of the June 18 elections.
According to the affidavit, Nishant passed his Intermediate examination from Patna Science College in 1998 and later enrolled in the Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Science) programme at the Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, Ranchi. However, he completed only five of the eight semesters required for the course and left his studies in 2001 without obtaining a degree. Sources close to him have reportedly attributed the decision to health-related reasons.The disclosure has provided ammunition to opposition parties, particularly the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which has questioned the public perception of Nishant as an engineer. Opposition leaders have argued that the affidavit confirms he is not a graduate, intensifying the political discourse surrounding his rise within the JD(U).Apart from his educational background, the affidavit also highlights a significant increase in Nishant’s income. His annual income reportedly rose from ₹7.16 lakh in 2020-21 to ₹1.28 crore in 2024-25. He has declared movable and immovable assets worth around ₹4.63 crore, including agricultural land in Nalanda district and several residential properties in Bihar.Nishant, who recently entered active politics and was inducted into the Bihar Cabinet as Health Minister, is contesting the MLC election as a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate. With the NDA enjoying a comfortable majority in the Bihar Assembly, his election is widely expected to be a formality. The poll is nevertheless significant, as it will enable him to retain his ministerial position by becoming a member of the state legislature within the constitutionally mandated period.His nomination and growing role within the JD(U) are being viewed as part of a broader transition within the party, with many observers seeing his elevation as a move to shape the future leadership of the regional outfit led by Nitish Kumar.