As the results for the Bihar Assembly Election 2025 begin to emerge, all attention is focused on Nitish Kumar, the state’s longest-serving Chief Minister. A political strategist renowned for his ability to navigate Bihar’s ever-shifting political landscape, the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) supremo remains an essential and enduring figure in the state’s narrative after more than two decades in power.
The outcome will be a defining moment that determines whether Kumar, now in his mid-70s, will secure another term or if Bihar will witness a change in government after his long, tumultuous rule.
The Rise of a ‘Pro-Development’ Leader
Born in 1951 in Bakhtiyarpur, Nitish Kumar’s political foundation lies in the socialist movement, having emerged from the Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) Movement of the 1970s, alongside contemporaries like Lalu Prasad Yadav.
- Early Electoral Success: He formally entered electoral politics in the early 1980s, winning his first assembly election from Harnaut in 1985. He later served multiple terms as a member of Parliament, representing Barh and Nalanda.
- Reputation for Governance: After first taking the Chief Minister’s chair in 2000 (briefly) and then consolidating power in 2005, Kumar earned a strong reputation as a pro-development leader. His focus on governance, including key initiatives in road infrastructure, rural electrification, education, women’s empowerment, and law and order, was widely credited with transforming Bihar’s image, which had long been associated with the term “jungle raj.”
Since 2006, Kumar has chosen a rare path for a sitting CM, becoming a member of the Bihar Legislative Council (MLC) rather than contesting the Assembly election directly, a move he has maintained throughout his later terms.
The Reign of ‘Mr. Flip-Flop’
Nitish Kumar’s political survival and longevity are inextricably linked to his frequent, yet calculated, alliance shifts, which have earned him the moniker of a political “flip-flopper.” This highlights his unmatched strategic acumen and ability to remain central to power regardless of the prevailing political wind.
His notable alliance shifts include:
- 2013 Break-up: He parted ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after Narendra Modi’s emergence as the party’s national leader.
- 2015 Mahagathbandhan: He allied with his former rival, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD, and the Congress to form the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), which swept the elections.
- 2017 Return to NDA: He dramatically switched back to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), citing corruption in the RJD, and was sworn in as CM again.
- 2022 Break-up: Following the 2020 Assembly election—where the JD(U)’s seat tally dropped significantly to 43 seats compared to the BJP’s 74—Kumar felt his standing within the NDA had diminished. He broke away again in August 2022 to form a new coalition with the RJD, Congress, and Left parties.
- 2024 Final U-Turn: In January 2024, just before the Lok Sabha elections, he made a final, decisive U-turn, resigned from the opposition’s INDIA bloc, and rejoined the NDA, taking the oath as Chief Minister for the ninth time.
The 2025 NDA Equation
The 2025 Bihar Assembly Election, which saw a historic high voter turnout of 67.13%, is a critical test of Kumar’s enduring appeal. In the NDA arrangement for this election, the power dynamic was carefully balanced: the JD(U) and the BJP contested on an equal footing, each fielding candidates for 101 seats out of the 243-member assembly, marking a strategic parity not seen since 2005. The alliance also included smaller, influential parties like Chirag Paswan’s LJP (RV), Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular).
With vote counting underway, the results will deliver the final verdict on the legacy of the man who has shaped Bihar’s destiny for the better part of two decades.