Nitish Kumar Returns as Bihar CM, Marks Historic 10th Swearing-In

Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar took oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for an unprecedented 10th time on Thursday, marking a historic moment in the state’s political landscape. The swearing-in ceremony was organized at Patna’s iconic Gandhi Maidan, a venue that has witnessed numerous major political gatherings over the decades. The event drew national attention, as it was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president J. P. Nadda, and several senior leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Chief Ministers from several NDA-governed states were also present, underscoring the importance of the ceremony within national politics.

Nitish Kumar, now 74 years old, has solidified his position as one of India’s most experienced and longest-serving political leaders. With this swearing-in, he has extended his cumulative tenure as Chief Minister to nearly 19 years, placing him among the top ten longest-serving Chief Ministers in India’s history. His long political career has been marked by multiple shifts in alliances, earning him the nickname ‘Paltu Ram’ because of his frequent realignments within Bihar’s political spectrum. However, he is also widely referred to as ‘sushashan babu’ — a title reflecting his reputation for working toward good governance and administrative improvements.

A new council of ministers was also sworn in during the ceremony. From the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), leaders such as Dilip Jaiswal, Mangal Pandey, Sanjay Singh Tiger, Rama Nishad, Arun Shankar Prasad, Ram Kripal Yadav, Nitin Nabin, and Surendra Prasad Mehta took oath as ministers. The JD(U) had notable representation with Lesi Singh, Madan Sahni, Sunil Kumar, and Mohammad Jama Khan sworn in. From the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) or HAM(S), Santosh Suman was inducted into the cabinet. Deepak Prakash represented the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), while Sanjay Kumar Singh and Sanjay Kumar joined the ministry on behalf of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). The oath of office and secrecy to all ministers, including Nitish Kumar, was administered by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.

The formation of the new government followed an important political development that took place a day earlier. On Wednesday, Nitish Kumar was unanimously elected as the leader of the NDA during a meeting attended by 202 legislators of the coalition, held in the Central Hall of the Bihar Legislative Assembly. This unanimous selection reaffirmed his stature within the alliance and cleared the path for his 10th term as Chief Minister. During the meeting, he was felicitated with an enormous garland, symbolizing collective support from top NDA leaders. The gathering was attended by several influential figures, including Union Minister and BJP’s Bihar in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, LJP (RV) chief Chirag Paswan, RLM leader Upendra Kushwaha, and HAM(S) patron Jitan Ram Manjhi.

Overall, Nitish Kumar’s 10th swearing-in marks a significant political milestone, highlighting his continued relevance in Bihar’s governance and the trust placed in him by the NDA leadership.