Nitish Kumar is Bihar’s ‘Phoenix’, takes party and NDA to another term in power

NEW DELHI: The 2025 Bihar Assembly polls were considered as the litmus test for serving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. However, Nitish Kumar has managed to steer the politics of Bihar around him in every Bihar election in the past over 20 years.

Often targeted by the opposition as ‘paltu ram (frequent turncoat)’, Nitish Kumar has held his ground and vote bank stronger always. Nitish Kumar’s lasting popularity stems from his focus on tangible development and inclusive growth.

He’s delivered on promises, improving rural infrastructure and providing direct financial assistance, earning trust across Bihar’s socio-economic spectrum. Voters remember his fulfilled commitments, valuing steady progress over grand rhetoric.

In Bihar, Nitish Kumar’s pragmatic and inclusive approach to governance has bridged long-standing gaps, exceeding historically low expectations. His development-focused politics continues to strike a chord with voters, ensuring his enduring relevance after over 20 years in power.

His recent governance initiatives have shifted public perception, including pensions for widows, the elderly, and differently-abled individuals, doubling salaries for school night guards and PT teachers and Rs 10,000 assistance to around a crore women.

Nitish Kumar’s support transcends caste boundaries, with backing from diverse communities, including 10% of the Hindu upper castes, over 4% of the Kushwahas, more than 5% of the Paswans, over 3% of the Musahars, and 2.6% of the Mallahs.

His broad-based appeal stems from a focus on development and inclusive governance, making him a unique figure in Bihar politics. This diverse support base has helped him maintain power for over two decades.

Nitish Kumar’s enduring popularity in Bihar is indeed noteworthy, especially considering his over two decades in office. Several factors contribute to this trend.

Nitish Kumar’s emphasis on infrastructure development, education, and healthcare has yielded tangible results, benefiting various sections of society.

His efforts to reach out to marginalised communities, including Muslims, have helped bridge social divides. Nitish Kumar’s ability to balance competing interests and adapt to changing circumstances has contributed to his enduring relevance.

The recent election trend also indicates a strong showing for the NDA, with Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) performing well. The BJP and JD(U) are leading in several seats, suggesting a continued trust in Nitish Kumar’s leadership.

The early trends show that he has passed the litmus test with flying colours. Before the elections, there were many hoardings with the slogan “25 se 30, phir se Nitish,” portraying him as a weak link among the NDA partners.

This came after JD-U saw a dip in its performance in the last two polls. It won 71 seats of 101 it contested in 2015 and 43 of 115 in 2020.

But, he turned the tide, living up to his epitaph as ‘Chankya’ of politics, who knows how to remain relevant and survive the tides.

As per early trends till 11:00 AM today, JDU was leading at 77 seats with a gain of 34 seats as compared to 2020 results, with NDA getting a clear majority, leading at 180 seats.

It’s worth noting that Bihar’s voter turnout has been historically high, with a record 67.13% turnout in this election. Analysts attribute this to competitive enthusiasm rather than anti-incumbency sentiment.

Nitish Kumar’s governance in Bihar has been marked by a focus on development and inclusivity, which has helped him maintain popularity across communities, including Muslims who’ve traditionally opposed his ally, the BJP. His schemes and policies have driven economic growth, improved infrastructure, and enhanced living standards, resonating with voters.

Many Muslims acknowledge Nitish Kumar’s efforts to improve their socio-economic status.

Nitish Kumar’s governance style has helped him maintain power for over two decades. His focus on development and inclusivity has created a loyal voter base, making him a formidable force in Bihar politics.

Nitish Kumar’s political journey is a testament to his adaptability and strategic growth. Influenced by veterans like Ram Manohar Lohia, SN Sinha, Karpuri Thakur, and VP Singh, he honed his skills in the JP movement (1974-1977) alongside Jayaprakash Narayan. This exposure earned him recognition among prominent politicians.

He joined the Janata Party under Satyendra Narain Sinha and won the first state assembly election from Harnaut (1985). He emerged as a voice for the backward castes and secularism.

Nitish Kumar joined the BJP, winning a Lok Sabha seat from Barh (1996) and holding central government portfolios, including agriculture.

Nitish Kumar’s tenure as Railway Minister (2001-2004) showcased his focus on inclusive development. Key initiatives included reducing the senior citizen age limit from 65 to 60 years; increasing second-class concession from 25% to 30%; extending facilities for disabled passengers to AC 3-tier and chair cars, and introducing concessions for disabled travellers, journalists, and police medal recipients.

His time was heavily focused on Gauge conversion to enable the railways for a safer and longer expansion. These “social responsibility” steps earned him recognition and popularity, highlighting his ability to drive meaningful change.

Nitish Kumar’s first stint as Bihar’s Chief Minister in 2000 was short-lived, lasting just seven days. Nominated by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he couldn’t prove a majority, and Lalu Yadav’s camp blocked the government. Lalu’s wife, Rabri Devi, then took over as Chief Minister, amidst controversy.

The 2000 setback marked a turning point for Nitish Kumar. He would go on to become one of the longest-serving Chief Ministers in India, with a remarkable tenure spanning over two decades.

Nitish Kumar is aiming to become one of the longest-serving Chief Ministers in Bihar’s history. Here are some notable Chief Ministers with extended tenures: Pawan Kumar Chamling served as Sikkim’s Chief Minister for nearly 25 years (December 12, 1994, to May 26, 2019); Naveen Patnaik held office as Odisha’s Chief Minister for over 24 years (March 5, 2000, to June 12, 2024) and Jyoti Basu was West Bengal’s Chief Minister for 23 years (1977 to 2000), making him the longest-serving CM in that state.

Nitish Kumar has been Bihar’s Chief Minister since November 2005, with a brief nine-month gap in 2014-15. If re-elected, he could join the ranks of these veteran leaders. (ANI)