Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar achieved unprecedented political milestones Thursday, becoming the first Indian chief minister to take oath for a record 10th term while extending his cumulative tenure to approximately 19 years. The 74-year-old leader was sworn in at a grand ceremony at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and several top NDA leaders.
Political Journey and Nicknames
Born in 1951 in Bihar’s Bakhtiyarpur, Kumar entered politics during the JP Movement, joining the Janata Party. After an unsuccessful 1977 Assembly election debut, he achieved his first electoral victory in 1985.
His nearly five-decade political career, marked by frequent alliance switches, earned him the nickname “Paltu Ram” (flip-flopper), while his administrative efficiency garnered him the moniker “Sushashan Babu” (Good Governance Leader).
Historic Rankings
Nitish Kumar now joins India’s top-10 longest-serving chief ministers, a list previously dominated by regional stalwarts:
1. Pawan Kumar Chamling (Sikkim) – Over 25 years (December 12, 1994 – May 26, 2019)
2. Naveen Patnaik (Odisha) – Over 24 years (March 5, 2000 – June 11, 2024)
3. Jyoti Basu (West Bengal) – Over 23 years (June 21, 1977 – November 5, 2000)
4. Gegong Apang (Arunachal Pradesh) – Over 22 years (multiple terms: 1980-1999; 2003-2007)
5. Lal Thanhawla (Mizoram) – Over 22 years (multiple terms: 1984-1986; 1989-1998; 2008-2018)
6. Virbhadra Singh (Himachal Pradesh) – Over 21 years (multiple terms spanning 1983-2017)
7. Manik Sarkar (Tripura) – Over 19 years (March 11, 1998 – March 9, 2018)
8. Nitish Kumar (Bihar) – About 19 years (March 3-11, 2000; November 24, 2005 – May 20, 2014; February 22, 2015 – November 19, 2025)
9. M Karunanidhi (Tamil Nadu) – Over 18 years (multiple terms: 1969-1976; 1989-1991; 1996-2001; 2006-2011)
10. Parkash Singh Badal (Punjab) – Over 18 years (multiple terms spanning 1970-2017)
Kumar’s longevity demonstrates remarkable political adaptability and sustained electoral relevance in Bihar’s complex political landscape.
