Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: With the results of the Bihar Assembly elections just around the corner, all eyes are on Nitish Kumar, the JDU supremo and the state’s longest-serving Chief Minister. Kumar is relying on his past record and citing recently launched infrastructure and urban development projects, as well as welfare schemes, to attract voters.
Nitish Kumar’s Background: Early Life and Educational Qualifications
- Born on March 1, 1951, in Bakhtiyarpur, Bihar, Nitish Kumar is the son of Kaviraj Ram Lakhan Singh and Parmeshwari Devi.
- Kumar married Manju Kumari Sinha, a teacher, and they had a son, Nishant. Manju Kumari passed away in 2007.
- According to an NDTV report, the JDU supremo earned a degree in electrical engineering from the Bihar College of Engineering (now NIT Patna) in 1972.
A glimpse of Nitish Kumar’s political career
- 1970s: Entered politics during the JP movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan.
- 1977: Contested his first assembly election with the Janata Party, but lost.
- 1985: Won his first assembly election.
- 1989: Elected to the 9th Lok Sabha and served as Union Agriculture Minister. He was re-elected in 1991.
- 1994: Following differences with RJD supremo Lalu Yadav, Kumar resigned from the Janata Dal and founded the Samata Party with George Fernandes.
- 1998-2004: Held key portfolios under the NDA government at the Centre, including Railways (1998-1999, 2001-2004), Surface Transport (1998-1999), and Agriculture (1999-2000).
- 1999: Resigned as Railway Minister after the Gasel train accident.
- 2000: Became Chief Minister of Bihar for the first time, but resigned within a week due to lack of majority.
- 2003: Samata Party merged with Janata Dal (United).
- 2005: JDU-BJP alliance defeated RJD and Kumar became Chief Minister for his first full term.
- 2010: Re-elected with a landslide victory, and the JDU-BJP alliance reduced RJD to 22 seats.
- 2013: Ended alliance with BJP following Narendra Modi’s nomination for Prime Minister.
- 2015: Formed a grand alliance with RJD and Congress and won the 2015 state elections, according to news agency PTI.
- 2017: Broke ties with RJD over corruption allegations against Tejashwi Yadav; Rejoined the NDA and returned as Chief Minister.
- 2020: Led the NDA to another victory and retained the Chief Ministership.
- 2022: Kumar resigned, left the NDA, and joined the Grand Alliance, forming a new coalition government.
- 2024: Resigned from the Grand Alliance, rejoined the NDA, and was sworn in as Chief Minister for the ninth time.
Kumar’s frequent shifts in political alliances are closely monitored, yet many credit him with possessing a keen instinct for survival in the constantly changing landscape of Bihar politics.