Nitish Kumar is the longest-serving Chief Minister of Bihar. He was sworn in for the first time in 2005 and has ruled the state for 19 years. He has maintained his position by changing his alliances multiple times. He is often referred to as “Paltu Ram" (Party-switcher). This piece aims to delve into his strategy to maintain his power in the state.
NDA wins, will Nitish Kumar assume his seat again?
- On 14th November, 2025 National democratic alliance (NDA) acquired a landslide in the state, a coalition led by Nitish Kumar of JD(U). They won a total of 202 out of 243 assembly seats, leaving Rahul Gandhi’s coalition far behind. Nitish Kumar thanked the people the Bihar and members of the coalition. "In the Bihar Assembly Elections-2025, the residents of the state have expressed faith in our government by giving us a huge majority. For this, I bow to all the respected voters of the state and express my heartfelt gratitude and thanks.” I offer my respects and heartfelt thanks to the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji, for the cooperation received from him."
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his thoughts on the NDA’s victory in the state, “Heartfelt thanks to my family members of Bihar, who have blessed the NDA with a historical and unprecedented victory in the 2025 Assembly elections. This massive mandate will give us the strength to serve the public and work with a new resolve for Bihar.”
- How does Nitish Kumar manage to be on the side of victory? What is his strategy to hold on to his power in the state? He is often referred to as “Paltu Ram” for changing alliances multiple times from the BJP to the RJD to the BJP all over again. Lalu Yadav, the former CM of Bihar, was arrested on charges of corruption, after which his wife Rabri Devi assumed the post. After the instability and havoc created by the previous government in the state, Nitish Kumar’s government was a beacon of light; they found stability in him as the CM. Even though he is criticised, he continues to win.
- The BJP and JD(U) alliance has proved to be strong, capable of garnering the maximum voters. BJP has a strong base in the state, and JD(U) attracts voters from different backgrounds (Backward castes and Minorities). Nitish Kumar had switched alliances but always ended up with the BJP. Women voters support him for his schemes and reservations, which have seemingly uplifted women and their ambitions, such as the Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana, Mukhyamantri Lakshmibai Samajik Suraksha Yojana, and 50% Reservation for Women in Panchayats & Urban Local Bodies.
- Nitish Kumar belongs to the Kurmi community (OBC); his identity empowers others and encourages minorities to place trust in him as a leader. With the introduction of schemes that support the background castes such as EBC (Extremely Backward Classes) Scholarship Schemes EBC (Extremely Backward Classes) Scholarship Schemes, and Reservation Policies, he has pulled in more votes. For decades, alcoholism has been an issue in the state, which has subjected women to domestic violence and negatively impacted children. His government banned the buying and selling of Liquor.
- Nitish Kumar thanked the women voters of his state with a separate post on his social media handles
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