Call him ‘Sushasan Babu’, ‘Kursi Kumar’ or whatever you prefer, depending on your political affiliations, but Nitish Kumar is undoubtedly an ultimate survivor. He has seen both low and high tides but remains afloat regardless of his own party’s standing in Bihar — a shrewd politician who knows what will work and what will not, whom to side with and whom to abandon. Nitish Kumar’s political journey is the ultimate survival guide for any aspiring politician. Nitish Kumar’s tenth swearing-in as Bihar Chief Minister is not just a political event; it is a masterclass in achieving the impossible. At 74, the JD(U) chief has achieved what all politicians aspire to — lifelong relevance. He has succeeded with a unique blend of pragmatism, instinct, and an almost uncanny ability to read the pulse of Bihar’s politics.
Since 2005, when he first unseated Lalu Prasad Yadav’s 15-year rule, Nitish has changed tracks but remained in the race. Where others fell to anti-incumbency, inner-party revolts, or shifting national currents, Nitish turned each crisis into an opportunity. He is the only Chief Minister who has endured change and used it to strengthen his base.
His latest return to power, marking his tenth term, is the culmination of decades of political agility. Nitish’s core strength lies in the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) vote bank, cultivated over three decades. It is this foundation, combined with his “Sushasan Babu” image and an impressive administrative record, which makes him indispensable to every coalition.
From his early days in the Janata Dal, working closely with Lalu, to engineering the 1994 rebellion that gave rise to the Samata Party, Nitish was always a step ahead in the game. His alignment with the BJP in 1996 led him to national prominence, particularly as a capable Railway Minister in the Vajpayee era. His first stint as CM in 2000 lasted barely seven days, but he returned with vengeance in 2005 and ruled Bihar for nine years — years often termed as the reconstruction phase. Then began a decade of turbulence. His 2013 break with the BJP over Narendra Modi seemed principled but came at a heavy political cost. Two years later, he staged a dramatic comeback with Lalu Prasad in the Mahagathbandhan, only to abandon it in 2017 and return to the BJP. In 2022, he switched again, accusing the BJP of plotting against him, only to rejoin them before the 2024 elections. Yet, here he stands — victorious again in 2025, sworn in for an unprecedented tenth term.
The absolute majority with which the NDA has swept Bihar will indeed shape the next five years of decision-making by the Chief Minister. However, his own stability hinges on how long the NDA partnership holds, and the time BJP takes to claims the top post. Bihar’s governance challenges — unemployment, migration, and development gaps — remain massive, and the state needs some hard decisions. Nitish’s legacy will depend on whether he can transform his survival instincts into lasting reform. But for now, Nitish Kumar remains the man who always finds his way back to the chair.