Nitish Kumar Takes Oath as Bihar CM for 10th Term, Poised to Become India’s Longest-Serving CM

Janata Dal (United) supremo Nitish Kumar took oath as Chief Minister of Bihar for a record-extending tenth time on Thursday morning at a grand ceremony in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, solidifying his position as one of the most resilient and longest-serving political leaders in independent India. The 74-year-old leader’s latest triumph came on the back of the National Democratic Alliance’s overwhelming victory in the November 2025 assembly elections, where the coalition secured a commanding 202 seats out of 243, decisively crushing the opposition Mahagathbandhan.

Kumar’s JD(U) delivered a powerful performance by clinching 85 seats, exceeding pre-poll expectations and proving wrong detractors who had repeatedly dismissed him as too old or politically exhausted. The Bharatiya Janata Party, with 89 seats, retained its status as the senior partner, while smaller allies Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha, and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Manch contributed significantly to the alliance’s landslide, collectively underscoring the enduring appeal of the NDA’s development narrative in Bihar.

Should Nitish Kumar complete this full five-year term, he will surpass former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s record and become independent India’s longest-serving chief minister with over 24 years in office, a remarkable feat achieved through strategic alliance management and an unmatched ability to read Bihar’s complex social and political landscape. His journey from socialist roots to repeated realignments has kept him at the centre of power for two decades, earning both admiration and criticism in equal measure.

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Nineteen ministers were also sworn in alongside Kumar to form the core of the new government. The BJP, asserting its numerical edge, secured ten cabinet berths, while JD(U) received six. The three smaller allies were allocated one portfolio each, though sources indicate Chirag Paswan’s strong electoral showing with 19 seats may result in his party being granted an additional ministry in the final expansion, reflecting the coalition’s careful balancing of regional and caste equations.

With the “double-engine” government now firmly in place, Nitish Kumar’s tenth tenure begins with renewed focus on accelerating infrastructure, welfare schemes, law and order, and industrial growth. The oath-taking ceremony, attended by top NDA leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, marked not just a personal milestone but a resounding reaffirmation of the alliance’s dominance in Bihar’s political landscape for the foreseeable future.

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