Nitish Kumar Sworn In as Bihar Chief Minister for Record 10th Term

• By Thetripurapost Desk, Patna
• Nov 20, 2025
• 537

Days after a resounding election victory in Bihar, Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar was sworn in as chief minister for a historic 10th time on Thursday. The ceremony took place in Patna before a large gathering of party leaders, alliance partners and supporters.

Kumar’s JD(U) and its National Democratic Alliance partners, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), secured 202 of 243 seats, marking one of the bloc’s strongest performances in the state. The BJP won 89 seats and JD(U) 85, while smaller allies – Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha – shared the remaining 28.

The polls were conducted amid a political storm over alleged electoral list revisions. Opposition parties accused the government and Election Commission of manipulating voter rolls to edge out genuine voters and benefit the BJP, a charge both firmly rejected.

Bihar, home to more than 74 million voters and among the country’s poorest states, recorded a historic turnout of 66.91%, the highest since the first general election in 1951. Women voted in greater numbers than men, marking a significant shift in the state’s electoral landscape.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the mandate as “a victory for democracy” after results were declared on 14 November.

The opposition alliance led by the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) managed just 35 seats, suffering a major setback.

The election was closely watched nationwide as Bihar’s outcome precedes key state polls next year in West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu – regions where the BJP is yet to gain a firm foothold.

With his 10th oath of office, Nitish Kumar further cements his place as one of Bihar’s most influential political figures, having led the state for nearly two decades with just a brief interruption between 2014 and 2015.