Nitish Kumar was sworn in as chief minister of Bihar for an unprecedented tenth term on Thursday, marking yet another turning point in the state’s political landscape. The ceremony, staged at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan, saw 18 ministers and two deputy chief ministers take oath as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) formally reclaimed power following a sweeping win in the state elections.
Kumar, who heads the Janata Dal (United), had earlier resigned ahead of the dissolution of the outgoing assembly, clearing the way for the constitution of the state’s 18th legislative assembly. Governor Arif Mohammad Khan accepted his resignation, paving the path for a renewed NDA government backed by an emphatic mandate.
The return of an alliance with a decisive majority
The NDA registered a commanding victory, winning 202 of Bihar’s 243 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the largest constituent with 89 seats, followed by JD(U) with 85. Smaller allies — LJP (Ram Vilas) with 19 seats, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) with 5, and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha with 4 — consolidated the coalition’s dominance.
Thursday’s ceremony drew senior figures from across India’s political establishment, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah, and BJP president JP Nadda. Chief ministers from Haryana, Assam and Nagaland were also present in a show of strength for the NDA bloc.
Who’s in the new cabinet?
Among those inducted into the cabinet were several familiar faces from both the BJP and JD(U):
From the BJP:
Samrat Choudhary
Vijay Kumar Sinha
Dilip Jaiswal
Mangal Pandey
Ram Kripal Yadav
Santosh Suman
Nitin Nabin
Shreyasi Singh
From JD(U):
Vijay Kumar Choudhary
Bijendra Prasad Yadav
Shrawan Kumar
Ashok Choudhary
Leshi Singh
Madan Sahni
Sunil Kumar
The appointments largely reflect the alliance’s pre-poll power-sharing architecture, offering continuity rather than surprise.
Legislative agenda begins next week
A three-day session of the newly constituted assembly will convene on 26 November. The sitting will include the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, alongside oath-taking by newly elected legislators — formal steps in resetting the state’s political machinery after the polls.
A chief minister defined by longevity
With this term, Nitish Kumar joins the ranks of India’s longest-serving chief ministers, reinforcing his status as one of the country’s most enduring political figures. His latest return to power underscores both the organisational muscle of the NDA and the persistent reliance on Kumar’s leadership to anchor the coalition in the state.
