Nitish Kumar's JDU Faces Succession Crisis: Three Paths, High Stakes for Bihar Politics

• JDU faces a looming succession crisis as Nitish Kumar, 74, has no declared heir, making the leader-centric party vulnerable.
• Nitish's son, Nishant Kumar, is discussed as a potential successor, despite lacking political experience or a mass base.
• The BJP's growing influence and JDU's dependence on it mean a leadership vacuum could allow BJP to assert full control in Bihar.
• Experts identify three paths for JDU: Nitish choosing a successor, delaying the decision (benefiting BJP), or delaying too long (risking party disintegration).
• A timely decision before 2026 is crucial to prevent JDU's potential fragmentation and struggle for existence.

Why It Matters: Nitish Kumar must urgently decide JDU's successor to secure its future and prevent BJP dominance in Bihar.