The Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar has fallen once again, reshaping the political landscape in the state. Nitish Kumar has tendered his resignation to the Governor, paving the way for him to become the Chief Minister in the NDA government. Under Nitish Kumar’s leadership, the Mahagathbandhan government lasted for 17 months in Bihar. Now, he is set to take charge as the Chief Minister for the NDA once again, forming a government with the BJP. Nitish Kumar is credited with transforming Bihar’s image, holding the record for being the chief minister for the longest period.
Get to know Nitish Kumar:
Nitish Kumar was born in Bakhtiarpur and belongs to the Kalyan Bigaha village in Harnaut, Nalanda. He holds an engineering degree and actively participated in Jayaprakash Narayan’s total revolution movement. His wife has passed away, and he is a father to a son. Nitish Kumar entered politics after serving as the Minister of State for Agriculture in the central government in 1990. He later became the Railway Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government. Notably, Nitish Kumar has never contested in state assembly elections but continuously held the position of Chief Minister.
Initially, he was Chief Minister for only 7 days:
On March 3, 2000, Nitish Kumar took the oath as Bihar’s Chief Minister for the first time, but his government lasted only seven days due to the inability to secure a majority. He resigned on March 10, 2000. He later became the Chief Minister again in November 2005, leading the NDA government. After a successful term, he won the 2010 assembly elections, securing a strong majority.
New government with BJP in Bihar:
Nitish Kumar is once again set to become the Chief Minister of Bihar, forming a new government with the BJP. There are speculations about possible Deputy Chief Ministers in this alliance. When Jitan Ram Manjhi was appointed as the Chief Minister, the JDU-BJP alliance faced challenges. The JDU broke ties with the BJP in 2013, leading to significant political developments in Bihar.
Breakup with the Mahagathbandhan:
The Mahagathbandhan government formed in 2015 did not complete its term, and Nitish Kumar broke ties with the RJD to join hands with the BJP in 2017. However, the alliance with the BJP faced strains in 2022, leading Nitish Kumar to align with the RJD again, forming the Mahagathbandhan government once more. However, this government lasted for a short duration, and Nitish Kumar is now set to become the Chief Minister for the ninth time in collaboration with the BJP.
Significant contributions to Bihar’s development:
Nitish Kumar is a prominent leader of the JDU and currently serves as its national president. He played a crucial role in giving Bihar a new identity. When he became Chief Minister in 2005, law and order were in a dire state, and Nitish Kumar addressed this issue diligently. Under his leadership, the Bihar government conducted the caste-based census and expanded the scope of reservations.
