Nitish Kumar 10th Time? The Reluctant Constant of Bihar Politics

Nitish Kumar 10th Time? The Reluctant Constant of Bihar Politics


By Jameel Aahmed Milansaar 

Mobile ; 9845498354

In a state where politics thrives on unpredictability, Nitish Kumar remains the one enduring constant. Bihar has witnessed alliances form and break, leaders rise and fall, and party loyalties test gravity itself—but one thread has run through it all for nearly 25 years: Nitish Kumar’s quiet, methodical presence at the helm.

If he takes oath this time, it will mark his tenth stint as Chief Minister—an extraordinary record even by Indian political standards. His career began with a brief seven-day tenure in 2000, a political cameo that few took seriously then. Yet, two decades later, he stands as Bihar’s most durable political figure—worn, occasionally weary, but never irrelevant.
From Engineering Circuits to Political Circles

Born in Bakhtiarpur in 1951, Nitish Kumar graduated in engineering from Bihar College of Engineering, Patna. It was a time when technocrats rarely entered politics, yet the young engineer chose public life over a stable profession. He entered Parliament in the late 1980s and by the 1990s had established himself in national politics, serving as Union Minister for Railways, Agriculture, and Surface Transport.

Those who have seen him work describe him as a leader of deliberate pace, precise choices, and rare emotional display—traits that perhaps helped him survive Bihar’s whirlpool of caste arithmetic and alliance fragility.
The Personal and the Political

Off-stage, Nitish’s life has been remarkably private. He married Manju Kumari Sinha in 1973; her passing years later left him visibly changed, retreating further into the solitude of public duty. His only son, Nishant Kumar, has largely stayed away from political life, though recent speculation suggested he might contest from Harnaut—Nitish’s own old constituency. Whether that happens or not, the family’s political legacy remains synonymous with the father’s name alone.
The Health Question and the Human Factor

As in every long leadership journey, questions about Nitish Kumar’s health have surfaced. Political strategist Prashant Kishor termed him “physically tired,” while RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav called him “a tired Chief Minister.” BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, on the other hand, appealed for compassion, admitting that the CM seemed “a bit unwell” but insisting that health should not become politics.

It is perhaps natural. Leading a complex state for nearly twenty years, often balancing competing coalitions, would exhaust any leader. Yet, his ability to return from political setbacks—each time more understated, more pragmatic—continues to define his image.
The Legacy of a Reluctant Constant

Nitish Kumar’s story is more than political endurance; it is about persistence in the face of changing wind directions. For every alliance he has joined—whether with the BJP, RJD, or others—he has maintained a moral anchor in development politics, road connectivity, and law and order. Critics accuse him of ideological drift; supporters call him adaptable to Bihar’s unique political climate.

Perhaps both are true. Perhaps Nitish Kumar’s resilience lies not in rigidity but in his capacity to keep the ship afloat in turbulent waters.

As Bihar’s 2025 verdict unfolds, the slogan “Bihar ka matlab Nitish Kumar” rings with both admiration and fatigue. He is the chief minister who seems reluctant to stop, even when the journey has tested both his body and spirit.

Ten times may sound excessive for any leader—but in Bihar, where stability is the rarest politician’s virtue, Nitish Kumar’s constancy might just be his most enduring achievement.

The Writer is All India Milli Council Central Member