Nitish Kumar's Political Journey: From JP Movement Activist to Bihar's Nine-Time Chief Minister

Kumar began his political journey during the Jayaprakash Narayan Movement, setting the stage for his remarkable career.

As Bihar awaits election results, Nitish Kumar remains the focal point of national attention. Once celebrated as the architect of Bihar's development, his leadership faces intense scrutiny amid his shifting political allegiances and a strengthening opposition.

Kumar's campaign emphasizes his administrative achievements, particularly recent infrastructure developments, urban projects, and welfare initiatives designed to secure another term. Meanwhile, the opposition INDIA alliance, spearheaded by Tejashwi Yadav's RJD, has been highlighting issues of unemployment and migration to leverage public dissatisfaction.

Born on March 1, 1951, in Bakhtiarpur, Bihar to Kaviraj Ram Lakhan Singh and Parmeshwari Devi, Nitish Kumar earned an Electrical Engineering degree from Bihar College of Engineering (now NIT Patna) in 1972. He married Manju Kumari Sinha, a teacher, in 1973, and they had one son, Nishant. His wife passed away in 2007.

Kumar's political awakening occurred during the JP Movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan. Similar to his contemporary Lalu Prasad Yadav, he was arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act in 1974 and again during the Emergency in 1975.

He joined the Janata Party and contested his first assembly elections unsuccessfully in 1977, finally winning his first election in 1985.

In 1989, Kumar was elected to the ninth Lok Sabha and served as Union Agriculture Minister. He won re-election in 1991.

Kumar played a crucial role in Lalu Yadav's ascension to chief minister in 1990. However, their alliance deteriorated by 1994, prompting Kumar to resign from the Janata Dal and co-found the Samata Party with George Fernandes.

During the NDA government at the Centre, Kumar served in various Cabinet positions, including Railways (1998-1999, 2001-2004), Surface Transport (1998-1999), and Agriculture (1999-2000).

Following the Gaisal train disaster, he resigned as Railway Minister in August 1999.

On March 3, 2000, Kumar was sworn in as Bihar's chief minister for his first term, which lasted only seven days due to insufficient numerical support in the assembly.

The Samata Party merged into Janata Dal (United) in 2003. In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Kumar won from Nalanda but lost from Barh.

His first significant Bihar victory came in 2005, a decade after separating from Lalu Yadav, when the JD(U)-BJP coalition defeated RJD. Kumar was sworn in as chief minister for his first complete term.

He secured re-election in 2010 with a landslide victory, with the JDU-BJP alliance reducing RJD to just 22 seats.

In 2013, Kumar severed ties with the BJP over Narendra Modi's prime ministerial candidacy and formed the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) with RJD and Congress in 2015. He led this alliance to victory in the 2015 state elections.

By 2017, he terminated the alliance with RJD citing corruption allegations against Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, rejoined the NDA, and resumed office the same day.

After leading the NDA to victory in the 2020 polls and returning as chief minister, Kumar resigned in August 2022, left the NDA, and rejoined the Mahagathbandhan, forming a new coalition government.

On January 28, 2024, he resigned from the Mahagathbandhan, rejoined the NDA, and was sworn in as Chief Minister for the ninth time.

While his frequent alliance switches earned him the nickname "Paltu Ram" (one who frequently changes sides), Kumar is also recognized for having some of the most exceptional political survival instincts in Indian politics.