As Bihar braces for another high-stakes election, history offers a powerful reminder of how swiftly political fortunes can change in the state. Over five decades ago, in 1969, Harihar Singh briefly became Bihar’s Chief Minister in a period of unprecedented instability — only to resign within four months, even before assigning portfolios to several cabinet members.
The episode stands as one of Bihar’s most chaotic political chapters, reflecting the constant churn that has long defined its governance.
Political Chaos in 1968-69: A State Without a Stable Government
By mid-1968, Bihar had plunged into deep political uncertainty. Chief Minister Bhola Paswan Shastri resigned on June 29, 1968, leading to 242 days of President’s Rule — nearly eight months without an elected government.
When fresh elections were finally held in February 1969, the verdict only deepened the crisis.
The results were fragmented:
- Congress: 118 seats (out of 318)
- Samyukta Socialist Party (SSP): 52
- Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS): 34
- Communist Party of India (CPI): 25
- Praja Socialist Party (PSP): 18
- Raja Kamakhya Narain Singh’s Janata Party: 14
No party commanded a clear majority — making it one of the most divided mandates in Bihar’s history.
The Congress in Disarray
At the time, the Congress party was splintered both in Bihar and at the national level. Internal factions led by KB Sahay, Mahesh Prasad Sinha, and Satyendra Narain Sinha weakened the party’s unity, while prominent OBC leader Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav—denied a ticket—added to the internal rebellion.
Former CM Binodanand Jha further complicated matters after launching the Loktantrik Congress Dal.
Meanwhile, at the national level, the Congress was on the brink of a historic split between the old guard (Congress (O)) and Indira Gandhi’s faction (Congress (R)), a rupture that would soon reshape Indian politics.
The Rise of Harihar Singh: A Compromise Candidate
In this climate of factionalism, Harihar Singh, a Congress MLA from Buxar, emerged as a consensus candidate. Backed by a fragile coalition of the Congress, Shoshit Dal, Raja Kamakhya Narain Singh’s Janata Party, the Swatantra Party, and several independents, Singh was sworn in as Bihar’s ninth Chief Minister on February 26, 1969, ending months of President’s Rule.
A Bhojpuri poet and close ally of BP Mandal, Singh had a long if uneven political career. He had served as an MLC (1960–1966), and though denied a ticket in 1957, he rejoined Congress before the 1969 polls after stints with the Swatantra Party and as an independent MLA.
Cabinet Disputes and Delayed Portfolios
Singh’s coalition was shaky from the start. A faction led by Daroga Prasad Rai opposed the alliance, particularly objecting to the inclusion of Raja Kamakhya Narain Singh, who was facing court proceedings.
This dispute delayed the formation of the cabinet. Singh took the oath without ministers, and the first batch of ministers was sworn in only on March 7, 1969.
Daroga Prasad Rai boycotted the ceremony, accusing Singh of “breach of faith.” The controversy escalated to the Congress Working Committee, forcing Kamakhya Narain Singh to resign on March 28. His mother, Shashank Manjari Devi, replaced him in April, becoming the only woman in Singh’s cabinet.
Singh eventually expanded his ministry to 33 members, representing various castes, communities, and smaller parties — yet many were never assigned portfolios before the government’s collapse.
Collapse After Four Months
Singh’s fragile government crumbled on June 20, 1969, when it lost a key vote on the animal husbandry department’s grants, defeated 164 to 143.
With defections and abstentions mounting, Singh resigned the same day. His administration—still incomplete—became a symbol of Bihar’s chronic instability.
Just days later, the Congress split nationally into Congress (O) and Congress (R), echoing the disarray seen in Bihar.
Legacy of Harihar Singh
Harihar Singh passed away in March 1994, but his political legacy continued through his sons:
- Amrendra Pratap Singh, who served as a minister in Nitish Kumar’s cabinet, and
- Mrigendra Pratap Singh, a former MLA and minister in Jharkhand.
Though brief, Harihar Singh’s stint as Chief Minister marked a turning point — an emblem of Bihar’s turbulent coalition politics that still resonates today.