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Nitish Kumar, a salient fig successful Bihar authorities since the mid-1990s, volition reason his grounds 10 presumption arsenic Chief Minister successful March 2026. Mr. Kumar has navigated the analyzable governmental terrain of Bihar, marked by strategical alliances and governance initiatives aimed astatine promoting inclusivity and development.
Since the 1994 revolt successful Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal, Mr. Kumar has remained a cardinal fig successful the State’s politics. After breaking distant from the then-Chief Minister Lalu Prasad, helium co-founded the Samata Party alongside the seasoned socialist person George Fernandes.
Rajya Sabha predetermination | Nomination updates connected March 5, 2026
Old-timers, however, besides callback however Mr. Kumar utilized his governmental acumen successful the aboriginal 1990s to assistance Lalu Prasad go Chief Minister of the State by outmaneuvering beardown adversaries wrong the Janata Dal, specified arsenic Raghunath Jha and Ram Sundar Das. Lalu aboriginal repaid Mr. Kumar politically by helping him triumph the adjacent Lok Sabha predetermination successful 1994 from the erstwhile Barh parliamentary constituency by alienating the dreaded Dular Chand Yadav — a staunch hostile of Mr. Kumar who was aboriginal killed during the 2025 Assembly polls successful Mokama.
In March 2000, Mr. Kumar became the Chief Minister of Bihar for conscionable 7 days (March 3 to March 10) aft the Assembly elections successful the State resulted successful a hung House. Mr. Kumar had to resign aft his authorities failed to beryllium its bulk successful the House.
Earlier than this, Mr. Kumar began his governmental vocation successful 1974 during the anti-emergency question by joining Jayaprakash Narayan’s Total Revolution (Sampoorna Kranti). In 1985, helium was elected for the archetypal clip arsenic an MLA from the Harnaut constituency of Nalanda district, which is Mr. Kumar’s location district. In 1989, Mr. Kumar was besides elected for the archetypal clip to the Lok Sabha from the erstwhile Barh parliamentary constituency successful undivided Bihar. He was appointed Minister of State successful the V.P. Singh Government successful 1990.
In February 1994, Mr. Kumar organised a immense Kurmi Chetna Maharally for his caste group, the Backward Class Kurmi, astatine Patna’s historical Gandhi Maidan, on with the salient caste person Satish Kumar. In 1996, the Samata Party formed an confederation with the BJP.
From 1998-2004 Mr. Kumar was besides Minister for Railways successful Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Government.
Longest-serving CM
In November 2005, Mr. Kumar became the Chief Minister of the State again and remained successful bureau until March 5, 2026, taking oath for a grounds 10 presumption — successful 2000 (served for lone 7 days), 2005–2010, 2010–2014, 2015 (returned to bureau aft Jitan Ram Manjhi’s resignation), 2015–2017, 2017–2020, 2020–2022, 2022–2024, 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. In the meantime, for a little play of 9 months — from May 20, 2014, to February 22, 2015 — Jitan Ram Manjhi (now the enactment main of NDA state Hindustani Awam Morcha–Secular) served arsenic the Chief Minister of the State nether Mr. Kumar.
During his tenure arsenic the State’s Chief Minister, Mr. Kumar implemented respective innovative initiatives aimed astatine establishing “good governance” and promoting “inclusive growth” successful the State. He secured his presumption arsenic Chief Minister by forging a conjugation of assorted groups, including non-Yadav backward castes, the formidable Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), and precocious castes who were dissatisfied with the erstwhile authorities of Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal.
Furthermore, Mr. Kumar focused connected improvement works successful the State by constructing caller roads, authorities buildings, and restoring instrumentality and order. He besides implemented innovative schemes specified arsenic the bicycle yojana for miss students and a 35% preservation for women successful authorities jobs to beforehand women’s empowerment. Additionally, helium took a beardown stance against corruption and patronage wrong enactment networks portion inactive relying connected the bureaucracy.
After taking the oath arsenic Chief Minister successful November 2010, Mr. Kumar asserted his 3 priorities earlier the media: “governance, governance, and governance”, earning him the nickname “Sushashan Babu”.
However, Mr. Kumar’s governmental priorities person besides seen flip-flops, arsenic helium severed ties with the BJP and joined forces with the Opposition RJD-led Mahagathbandhan doubly successful bid to stay successful the presumption of Chief Minister of the State.
Where does Nitish Kumar spell from here?
Speculation abounds successful the State that, fixed his declining wellness and his request to unafraid his son’s governmental future, helium whitethorn gradually gaffe into governmental oblivion. Furthermore, joining hands with a enactment similar the BJP has proven to beryllium a hard task for conjugation partners seeking to stay successful powerfulness long-term.
Mr. Kumar mightiness person work betwixt the lines, quipped governmental adept and erstwhile prof of Patna University, Nawal Kishore Chaudhary.
