Key Highlights:
- Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the tenth time on November 20, 2025, at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan
- The NDA coalition secured a landslide victory with 202 seats in the 243-member Bihar Assembly
- Kumar is now the eighth longest-serving Chief Minister in India and could become the longest-serving if he completes this term
Bihar Chief Minister Takes Oath: Opening Overview
Nitish Kumar created history on Thursday morning by taking oath as Bihar Chief Minister for an unprecedented tenth time, cementing his position as one of India’s most enduring political leaders. The swearing-in ceremony at Patna’s iconic Gandhi Maidan marked the culmination of a triumphant electoral victory that saw the National Democratic Alliance sweep 202 of the state’s 243 Assembly seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and chief ministers from multiple BJP-ruled states attended the grand ceremony, transforming it into a massive show of strength for the ruling coalition.
The Janata Dal United leader, who has faced criticism about his age and fitness for governance, silenced detractors with his party’s impressive performance of winning 85 seats. This victory positioned the JDU as nearly equal to its senior alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party, which secured 89 seats in the Bihar Assembly elections held between November 6-11, 2025. At 74 years old, Nitish Kumar has now served as Bihar Chief Minister across nearly two decades, making him the eighth longest-serving Chief Minister in independent India’s history. If he completes this fifth consecutive term, Nitish Kumar will surpass former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s record of 24 years to become the longest-serving Chief Minister ever in India.
The November 2025 Bihar Assembly elections delivered an unexpected mandate that exceeded even exit poll predictions, with the Mahagathbandhan opposition alliance managing only 35 seats against the NDA’s overwhelming majority. Nitish Kumar stakes his tenth term on promises of continued development and good governance, the hallmark of his political brand known as “Sushasan Babu.”
Nitish Kumar has taken oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the record 10th time.
— With Love Bihar (@WithLoveBihar) November 20, 2025
Congratulations 🎉👏
We hope Bihar will see a new era of industrial development along with social upliftment.
VC: ANI pic.twitter.com/MtlhNxzCIm
Bihar Chief Minister Takes Oath: NDA’s Historic Electoral Mandate in Bihar
The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections produced a decisive verdict that reshaped the state’s political landscape. The Election Commission of India declared results for all 243 constituencies, confirming the National Democratic Alliance’s massive victory with 202 seats. Within the ruling coalition, the Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the largest single party with 89 seats, closely followed by Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal United with 85 seats. This near-parity between the two major allies marked a significant achievement for Nitish Kumar, who maintained his party’s strength despite competing on an equal number of seats as the BJP.
- The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Union Minister Chirag Paswan, registered a remarkable performance by winning 19 seats, a dramatic improvement from just one seat in the 2020 elections
- Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) secured five seats, while Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha won four constituencies
- The opposition Mahagathbandhan suffered a crushing defeat, with the Rashtriya Janata Dal winning only 25 seats and Congress managing just six
The Election Commission of India’s official results showed that the NDA’s victory margin far exceeded pre-poll surveys and exit poll predictions. The Rashtriya Janata Dal-led Mahagathbandhan, which had governed Bihar alongside Nitish Kumar from 2022 to early 2024, collapsed to a mere 35 seats across all constituent parties. Independent candidates and smaller parties like AIMIM won five seats, while the Bahujan Samaj Party secured one constituency. Prashant Kishor’s newly formed Jan Suraaj Party, despite contesting 238 seats with much fanfare, failed to win a single seat and received less than 4% of the total votes polled.
Voter turnout and participation patterns indicated strong public endorsement of the NDA’s development agenda in Bihar. The Election Commission reported that preparations for these elections involved extensive logistical arrangements across 243 Assembly constituencies. Nitish Kumar campaigned aggressively on his record of infrastructure development, law and order improvements, and welfare schemes implemented during his previous terms as Bihar Chief Minister. The results validated his strategy of partnering with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, a relationship that has defined Bihar politics for much of the past two decades despite periodic interruptions.
Bihar Chief Minister Takes Oath: Cabinet Formation and Ministerial Allocations
Twenty-seven ministers, including Nitish Kumar as Bihar Chief Minister, took the oath of office during the grand swearing-in ceremony at Gandhi Maidan. The cabinet formation reflected careful caste calculations and alliance management, with the Bharatiya Janata Party receiving the largest share of ministerial berths at 14 positions, while the Janata Dal United secured six portfolios. Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan administered the oath to all ministers in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top NDA leadership.
The BJP’s ministerial lineup featured experienced faces who had served in previous governments. Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, both Deputy Chief Ministers in the outgoing administration, took oath again and are expected to reprise their roles. Other prominent BJP ministers included Dilip Jaiswal, who previously held the Revenue portfolio, and Mangal Pandey, a senior party leader. The party also inducted Nitin Nabin, the former Roadways Minister, and Ram Kripal Yadav, a seasoned politician who previously served with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and as a Lok Sabha member.
Among notable inclusions from the BJP quota was Shreyasi Singh, a 34-year-old Commonwealth Games gold medallist in shooting who retained her Jamui Assembly seat. The party also named Sanjay Kumar Singh, Pramod Kumar, Lakhendra Raushan, Rama Nishad, Narayan Prasad, Surendra Mehata, Arun Shankar Prasad, and Sanjay “Tiger” Singh to ministerial positions. Pramod Kumar brings experience from his previous roles as Law Minister and Minister for Sugarcane and Art and Culture in earlier governments.
The Janata Dal United’s ministerial team consisted of proven administrators from previous cabinets. Bijendra Prasad Yadav, the former Energy Minister, and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, who led the Water Resources ministry, both returned to the council of ministers. Shrawon Kumar, the ex-Rural Development Minister, and Ashok Choudhary, who previously handled Rural Works Development, also took oath. The JDU additionally inducted Mohd Zama Khan, the former Minorities Welfare Minister, and Leshi Singh, a five-term MLA who previously served as Consumer Protection Minister.
| Party | Assembly Seats Won | Ministers in Cabinet | Key Ministerial Positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| BJP | 89 | 14 | Deputy Chief Ministers, Revenue, Roadways |
| JDU | 85 | 6 | Energy, Water Resources, Rural Development |
| LJP (RV) | 19 | 1 | To be allocated |
| HAM (S) | 5 | 1 | Information Technology (previous term) |
| RLM | 4 | 1 | To be allocated |
Smaller NDA allies received one ministerial berth each, ensuring representation across the coalition. From Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party, the Hindustani Awam Morcha, and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, the sons of party leaders—Deepak Prakash and Santosh Manjhi—were sworn in as ministers. Both are members of the Bihar Legislative Council and bring fresh perspectives to the cabinet. Santosh Manjhi previously served briefly as Minister for Information Technology and Disaster Management, while Deepak Prakash takes ministerial office for the first time.
The total cabinet strength of 27 ministers, including Nitish Kumar as Bihar Chief Minister, remains well below the constitutional maximum of 36 ministers besides the Chief Minister. This suggests that Nitish Kumar may keep positions vacant for future political adjustments or to accommodate demands from alliance partners as the term progresses. Sources indicated that consensus was reached on cabinet formation through consultations between Nitish Kumar and Union Home Minister Amit Shah before the swearing-in ceremony.
Bihar Chief Minister Takes Oath: Nitish Kumar’s Political Journey and Longevity
Nitish Kumar’s political career spans four decades, beginning with his election to the Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1985. The veteran leader’s journey to becoming Bihar Chief Minister for the tenth time represents an extraordinary saga of political survival, strategic alliance-building, and administrative resilience. His first opportunity to serve as Bihar Chief Minister came in March 2000 when he was backed by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, but that government lasted only seven days due to lack of numbers.
The defining moment in Nitish Kumar’s political trajectory arrived in November 2005 when he returned as Bihar Chief Minister with BJP support, ending Lalu Prasad Yadav’s 15-year dominance in the state. This marked the beginning of what analysts call Bihar’s “reconstruction era,” as Nitish Kumar focused on infrastructure development, improved law and order, and women’s empowerment programs. He strengthened his position in 2010 when the NDA alliance won 206 seats, giving him a massive mandate for his development agenda.
- Between 2005 and 2013, Nitish Kumar maintained a stable alliance with the BJP, earning the moniker “Sushasan Babu” (Mr. Good Governance) for his focus on administrative efficiency
- In 2013, he broke away from the BJP over disagreements regarding Narendra Modi’s prime ministerial candidacy, choosing to contest independently
- In 2015, Nitish Kumar formed the Mahagathbandhan with Lalu Prasad and Congress, winning 178 seats with RJD emerging as the largest party with 80 seats and JDU securing 71
Nitish Kumar has demonstrated an uncanny ability to switch alliances while maintaining his position as Bihar Chief Minister, earning criticism as “Paltu Ram” (turncoat) while his supporters defend these moves as pragmatic political adjustments. In 2017, he returned to the National Democratic Alliance, breaking away from the Mahagathbandhan to become Bihar Chief Minister for the sixth time. The 2020 Bihar Assembly elections saw the NDA narrowly retain power with 125 seats against the Mahagathbandhan’s 110, with Nitish Kumar continuing as Chief Minister despite his party’s reduced tally.
In August 2022, Nitish Kumar again switched sides, leaving the NDA to rejoin the Mahagathbandhan with RJD and Congress. However, this alliance proved short-lived when he resigned on January 28, 2024, broke away from the Mahagathbandhan, and rejoined the BJP-led NDA to become Bihar Chief Minister for the ninth time. This latest swearing-in as Bihar Chief Minister for the tenth time comes after the NDA’s decisive 2025 electoral victory, potentially offering Nitish Kumar the most stable political environment in years.
At 74 years old, Nitish Kumar is currently the eighth longest-serving Chief Minister in independent India with approximately 19 years in office across his multiple terms. Former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling holds the all-time record with 24 years and 165 days of continuous service from December 1994 to May 2019. If Nitish Kumar completes his current five-year term as Bihar Chief Minister, he will surpass Chamling’s record to become the longest-serving Chief Minister in Indian history.
| Rank | Chief Minister | State | Years in Office | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pawan Kumar Chamling | Sikkim | 24 years, 165 days | 1994-2019 |
| 2 | Naveen Patnaik | Odisha | 24 years, 99 days | 2000-2024 |
| 3 | Jyoti Basu | West Bengal | 23 years, 137 days | 1977-2000 |
| 8 | Nitish Kumar | Bihar | ~19 years | 2005-present |
Bihar Chief Minister Takes Oath: Regional Impact and National Implications
The 2025 Bihar Assembly election results carry significant implications beyond state politics, strengthening the Bharatiya Janata Party’s position in eastern India and validating Nitish Kumar’s continued relevance in national politics. The decisive mandate received by the National Democratic Alliance in Bihar contrasts sharply with the opposition’s fragmented performance, particularly the collapse of the Rashtriya Janata Dal from 80 seats in 2015 to merely 25 in 2025. This electoral outcome reinforces the BJP’s dominance in Hindi-heartland states and provides momentum for the party ahead of future national elections.
Nitish Kumar’s ability to secure 85 seats for the Janata Dal United, nearly matching the BJP’s 89 seats, demonstrates his enduring appeal among Bihar’s diverse caste constituencies. His governance model, emphasizing infrastructure development, women’s empowerment through bicycle schemes, and improved law and order, resonated with voters despite opposition attacks on his age and frequent alliance changes. The strong performance of Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party with 19 seats indicates growing consolidation of Dalit votes within the NDA framework in Bihar.
The crushing defeat of the Mahagathbandhan raises questions about the opposition’s strategy and organizational capacity in Bihar. The Rashtriya Janata Dal’s sharp decline from being the largest party in 2015 to winning only 25 seats reflects voter rejection of what critics termed “jungle raj” (lawless rule). Congress’s dismal performance with just six seats highlights the party’s continued struggle in eastern Indian states despite its recent successes in some other regions. Political observers note that the opposition’s failure to present a coherent development narrative against Nitish Kumar’s track record contributed significantly to the electoral rout.
Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, despite intense campaigning and high-profile launches, failed to win any seats and received less than 4% of votes. Kishor acknowledged his decision not to personally contest as a “mistake” and described Nitish Kumar as “not mentally and physically fit” to continue as Bihar Chief Minister, statements that drew criticism from NDA supporters. The Jan Suraaj’s poor showing suggests that Bihar’s electorate remains loyal to established political formations rather than experimenting with new parties.
Looking ahead, Nitish Kumar faces the challenge of managing a large coalition cabinet while delivering on development promises to Bihar’s 130 million citizens. The Bihar Chief Minister must balance caste equations, allocate portfolios strategically among alliance partners, and maintain coordination with the BJP leadership at the national level. His success in completing this tenth term without political turbulence will determine whether he achieves his ambition of becoming India’s longest-serving Chief Minister, surpassing Pawan Chamling’s 24-year record.
Bihar Chief Minister Takes Oath: Closing Assessment
Nitish Kumar’s swearing-in as Bihar Chief Minister for the tenth time marks an extraordinary milestone in Indian democratic politics, showcasing unparalleled political longevity and adaptability. The grand ceremony at Gandhi Maidan, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top NDA leadership, symbolized not just a state-level government formation but a reaffirmation of the alliance’s dominance in one of India’s most politically significant states. The National Democratic Alliance’s landslide victory with 202 seats out of 243 provides Nitish Kumar with the strongest mandate in years, potentially offering political stability that eluded him during his previous terms.
At 74, Nitish Kumar stands at the threshold of creating history as India’s longest-serving Chief Minister if he completes this fifth consecutive term as Bihar Chief Minister. His nearly two-decade tenure in office, interrupted only by brief periods, reflects his ability to navigate Bihar’s complex caste politics while maintaining focus on development and governance. The careful cabinet formation, balancing experienced administrators with fresh faces across alliance partners, demonstrates his continued political acumen in managing coalition dynamics.
The 2025 Bihar Assembly election results have broader implications for India’s political landscape, strengthening the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance’s foothold in eastern India while exposing the opposition’s organizational weaknesses. As Nitish Kumar embarks on his tenth term as Bihar Chief Minister, he carries the weight of high expectations from voters who endorsed his vision of “Sushasan” (good governance) over opposition alternatives. Whether this term cements his legacy as India’s most enduring Chief Minister or becomes another chapter in Bihar’s volatile political history remains to be seen, but for now, Nitish Kumar has secured his place in the annals of Indian political history.
