Patna | Nov 20

Nitish Kumar is preparing to take the oath as Bihar’s Chief Minister for the tenth time, marking yet another milestone in his long political journey. The ceremony is scheduled for Thursday at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan—a ground that has witnessed many important political moments over the decades. This is not the first time Kumar has chosen this iconic venue; he has taken oath here before, including in 2005, 2010, and 2015. Gandhi Maidan also carries deep symbolic weight as the site where Jayaprakash Narayan once urged the nation toward a “total revolution” in 1974.

A number of prominent leaders are expected to attend the event, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Several Chief Ministers from states governed by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are also likely to be present, turning the ceremony into a major political gathering.

Kumar’s path to yet another term became clear on Wednesday, when he was unanimously chosen as the leader of both the JD(U) Legislature Party and the NDA Legislature Party during meetings with newly elected MLAs. This unified support cleared the way for the new NDA government to take shape under his leadership.

At the same time, the BJP moved ahead with its internal leadership decisions. Samrat Choudhary was elected as the leader of the BJP Legislature Party, with Vijay Kumar Sinha chosen as his deputy. Their names were proposed by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who was serving as the central observer for the selection process. All BJP MLAs backed the proposals.

The 2025 Bihar Assembly election was seen as a major test for Nitish Kumar, now 74, who has had a defining influence on the state’s politics for more than two decades. With the exception of a brief nine-month break in 2014–15, he has served continuously as Chief Minister since November 2005. His decision to stake claim to form the government came after the NDA registered a sweeping victory, winning 202 seats out of 243. This is only the second time the alliance has crossed the 200-seat mark—the first being in 2010 when it won 206 seats.

Following the results, Kumar met Governor Arif Mohammad Khan to resign and then formally begin the process of forming the new government.

Within the NDA, the BJP emerged with 89 seats, JD(U) with 85, LJP (Ram Vilas) with 19, HAM(S) with 5, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha with 4. On the opposition front, the RJD won 25 seats, Congress 6, CPI(ML)L 2, the Indian Inclusive Party 1, and CPI(M) 1. The AIMIM secured 5 seats and the BSP won 1.

The election itself was held in two phases on November 6 and 11 and saw the highest voter turnout since 1951. A remarkable 67.13% of voters cast their ballots, with women once again turning out in greater numbers than men—71.6% compared to 62.8%.

 Nitish Kumar Set to Be Sworn In Again as Bihar Chief Minister

Nitish Kumar is all set to take oath as Bihar’s Chief Minister for the tenth time, marking another milestone in his long political life. His swearing-in will take place at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna, a venue that has seen many major political moments over the years. Leaders from across the NDA, including the Prime Minister and several Chief Ministers, are expected to attend, making the event a major gathering of national attention.

Kumar was unanimously chosen as the leader of both the JD(U) and NDA Legislature Parties, clearing the way for him to return as Chief Minister once again. This election was seen as a major test for him, and the NDA’s strong victory only strengthened his position. With over two decades of influence on Bihar’s political scene, he continues to hold a central role in shaping the state’s direction.

The 2025 election also saw a record voter turnout, with women participating in even higher numbers than men. The results, the support, and the setting all come together to mark a significant moment in Bihar’s political story.