With Bihar hours away from knowing its next chief minister, the political spotlight is firmly on Nitish Kumar, who is currently serving his ninth term and could be sworn in for a record tenth if the NDA crosses the halfway mark. As the contest between the BJP-led NDA and the Mahagathbandhan tightens, the question remains: Will Nitish Kumar return once again, or will Tejashwi Yadav take charge for the first time?
Bihar’s CM timeline: Starting from 1946 to now
Since 1946, Bihar has had 23 chief ministers. The state’s political history has swung between many long-serving leaders while some had sudden resignations, and short-lived governments.
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Nitish Kumar first took oath as chief minister on March 3, 2000, but that term lasted just seven days. His first full term came later, from November 24, 2005 to November 24, 2010. Nitish Kumar has now completed 18 years and 90 days in office.
Bihar’s first chief minister, Sri Krishna Sinha, led the state from April 2, 1946 to January 31, 1961, and is mostly remembered for abolishing the zamindari system and launching major river valley projects. The state also saw its first woman CM, Rabri Devi, who served from July 25, 1997 to February 11, 1999 during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s jail term.
At the national level, Bihar’s Nitish Kumar is up against some of India’s most enduring state leaders:
Pawan Kumar Chamling of Sikkim holds the record with over 24 years and 166 days in office
Naveen Patnaik of Odisha has governed for 23 years and 139 days
Jyoti Basu of West Bengal led for 23 years and 137 days
Gegong Apang of Arunachal Pradesh served 19 years and 14 days
Manik Sarkar of Tripura clocked in 19 years and 363 days
Lal Thanhawla in Mizoram held his post for 18 years and 269 days
M. Karunanidhi of Tamil Nadu governed for 18 years and 362 days
Parkash Singh Badal of Punjab led for 18 years and 350 days
Yashwant Singh Parmar, the first CM of Himachal Pradesh, served for 18 years and 83 days.
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As the counting unfolds, Bihar waits to see whether Nitish Kumar continues his long political journey or if the state is set for a generational shift under Tejashwi Yadav.
