Narendra Modi's key ally in India's Bihar state, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is resigning to join the Rajya Sabha upper house of Parliament. This move ends his two-decade leadership of the eastern state and removes a significant coalition partner from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Kumar's departure comes just months after the BJP-JD(U) alliance won Bihar's elections, a victory crucial for Modi's national agenda.

The state, home to 127 million people and 40 parliamentary seats, is vital for BJP's electoral calculations ahead of key state polls. Kumar's exit allows the BJP to consolidate control without coalition constraints, though his successor remains unannounced. Bihar's development under Kumar, with a per capita income of 32,227 rupees ($351.82), contrasts sharply with the national average, highlighting the state's economic challenges.

This political shift strengthens Modi's grip but leaves Bihar's governance transition uncertain.