Patna, March 9 -- Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's son Nishant Kumar formally joined the Janata Dal (United) on Sunday and said he would work to strengthen the party and take forward the development work done by his father in 20 years. JD(U) working president and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Jha inducted 50-year-old Nishant into the party at its headquarters in Patna in the presence of top leaders, including Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan'. "I will work for the party as an active member," Nishat said, while addressing JD(U) workers after joining the party. "My father has decided to go to Rajya Sabha and I respect his decision. I will try to live up to the faith that the people and the party have shown in me." He added that he will take his father's work forward. "I will try to take forward what my father has done in 20 years. Everyone remembers what my father has done for the state." An engineering graduate, Nishant said he would work to strengthen the party organisation. "I request everyone to maintain faith in my father. I will work under his guidance. I will try to make a place in people's hearts," he added. Nishant received a rousing reception at the JD(U) headquarters on his arrival, with party functionaries gathered outside waving party flags and beating drums. Bihar minister Ratnesh Sada called Nishant Kumar the "future of Bihar". Though Nitish Kumar was not present at the function, Nishant later accompanied Sanjay Jha to meet his father at 1, Anne Marg, the official residence of CM. The development comes three days after Nitish Kumar filed his nomination to the Rajya Sabha, effectively bringing the curtains down as the longest-serving Bihar chief minister after nearly two decades. There are speculations that Nishant, who is yet to get a post in the party or the state government, will be made deputy chief minister in the new government. He is also likely to join the state legislative council, the upper house in Bihar's bicameral legislature. "Nishant Kumar is the future of the party and the entire JD(U) will work with him," party state chief Umesh Kushwaha said. JD(U) MLA from Harnaut, Hari Narayan Singh, claimed that Nishant would be elected to the state legislative council next month. A close aide of Nitish Kumar claimed on Saturday that a unanimous decision had been taken to make Nishant deputy CM in the new government to be formed upon his father's resignation. Congress leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh extended "best wishes" to Nishant Kumar in his political journey. Meanwhile, Nishant Kumar, on Saturday, also held a meeting with senior party leaders and young MLAs at the residence of Sanjay Kumar Jha. The meeting discussed the party's future strategy....