Nitish Kumar’s tenth term as Chief Minister marks another chapter in a political career shaped by socialist roots, shifting alliances and long-term governance reforms.

Born on 1 March 1951 in Kalyan Bigha in present-day Nalanda district, Nitish Kumar grew up far from the political spotlight. His father, Kaviraj Ram Lakhan Singh, shared a close association with former Bihar Chief Minister and freedom fighter Satyendra Narayan Sinha.

Kumar pursued electrical engineering at what is now NIT Patna, where he began engaging with socialist political thought under leaders such as Ram Manohar Lohia, Jay Prakash Narayan, Karpoori Thakur, Satyendra Narayan Sinha and V.P. Singh.

He became actively involved in Jay Prakash Narayan’s ‘Sampoorna Kranti’ movement between 1974 and 1977. Senior journalist N. K. Singh noted: “Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar are products of the JP Movement… Many leaders emerged from that movement and these two were young leaders at that time.”

How did Kumar rise in electoral politics?

Kumar entered the Bihar Assembly in 1985 and won a Lok Sabha seat in 1989. His early parliamentary career included serving as Union Minister of State for Agriculture in 1990, followed by roles as Railway and Surface Transport Minister in the NDA government. He resigned in 1999 following the Gaisal train tragedy.

He briefly became Bihar Chief Minister in March 2000 but resigned within a week due to lack of majority, returning to the Union Cabinet the same year.

What shaped his early political identity?

In 1994, Nitish Kumar and George Fernandes broke away from Lalu Yadav to form the Samata Party. The party later merged with Sharad Yadav’s Janata Dal in 2003 to form the Janata Dal (United).

N. K. Singh observed: “Nitish did not enjoy his own support base at that point in time. He was propped up to counter Lalu Yadav. But that situation does not prevail today.”

How did he emerge as ‘Sushasan Babu’?

Kumar returned as Chief Minister in 2005 in alliance with the BJP. His administration emphasised improving law and order, governance and development indicators. Senior journalist Avdesh Kumar stated: “The law-and-order situation was in shambles… Nitish brought about these changes.” He added that despite recent increases in crime, it could not be attributed to “organised crimes increasing due to this government’s indulgence.”

During 2005–2010, Kumar introduced schemes focused on girls’ education, including the well-known bicycle distribution initiative. Avdesh Kumar noted his role in women’s empowerment, citing incentives such as clothing, bicycles, textbooks and scholarships that motivated girls to study and pursue higher education.

How have shifting alliances shaped his leadership?

Kumar’s political path has been marked by major alliance shifts.

In 2013, he ended ties with the BJP after Narendra Modi’s elevation as PM candidate.

After the JD(U)’s poor performance in 2014, he resigned, handing charge to Jitan Ram Manjhi before returning nine months later.

  • In 2015, he allied with Lalu Yadav to defeat the BJP.
  • In 2016, he enforced a statewide liquor ban, a measure that strengthened his appeal among women voters.
  • In 2017, he returned to the BJP-led NDA.
  • In 2022, he shifted back to the RJD but rejoined the NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

What does his tenth term signify?

With the NDA’s sweeping victory, Nitish Kumar is set for another term as Bihar’s Chief Minister, reaffirming his status as one of India’s most enduring and adaptable political figures.