N itish Kumar, the JD(U) chief, was sworn in as Bihar chief minister for the 10th time on Thursday, capping a political career defined by sharp turns and shifting alliances.

The NDA returned to power with a decisive mandate in the 2025 assembly elections, winning 202 of 243 seats.

The BJP secured 89 seats, while the JD(U) won 85, ensuring a smooth path for Kumar’s return to the top post and reaffirming his long-standing edge over the Rashtriya Janata Dal in state politics.

But Kumar’s first stint as chief minister was far from stable. His first stint as chief minister came in 2000, in the aftermath of the February assembly polls that produced a hung House. The RJD, led by Lalu Prasad Yadav, emerged as the single-largest party with 124 seats in the then 324-member assembly, while the

See Full Page