Nitish Kumar Resigns After 10 Terms As Bihar CM: The End Of JDU Era, A New Beginning For BJP

Last Updated:April 14, 2026, 15:17 IST

Nitish Kumar's exit paves way for the BJP to appoint its first-ever Chief Minister in Bihar, a state where it has previously only served as a junior partner or in coalition

Nitish Kumar resigned as the Chief Minister of Bihar on Tuesday, marking the end of a historic two-decade-long era in state politics.

Having served as Chief Minister for a record ten terms since 2005, his transition to the Rajya Sabha signifies a major shift from state-level governance to national politics.

Why did Nitish Kumar resign?

Kumar was elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16. Constitutional rules prohibit holding membership in both a state legislature and Parliament simultaneously, necessitating his resignation from the Bihar Legislative Council (MLC) and subsequently the CM post.

He was sworn in as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha on April 10. He will now move from his official residence at 1, Anne Marg, to 7, Circular Road.

What Nitish Kumar’s exit means

Nitish Kumar has been the defining figure of Bihar’s political landscape for nearly 20 years. His departure is seen as a “consequential shift" for several reasons:

His exit paves the way for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to appoint its first-ever Chief Minister in Bihar, a state where it has previously only served as a junior partner or in coalition.

Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary is currently the frontrunner to succeed him.

Known for his “social engineering" and frequent alliance shifts, Kumar’s tenure was marked by significant developmental initiatives, such as the cycle scheme for schoolgirls and major infrastructure improvements.

Nitish Kumar’s political journey

Nitish Kumar’s political journey, spanning over five decades, began during the socialist movements of the 1970s and culminated in a record-breaking ten terms as the Chief Minister of Bihar.

Kumar entered public life as a student leader during Jayaprakash Narayan’s “Total Revolution" in the 1974–1977 period. He was detained under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency.

After initial setbacks, he was first elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1985 from the Harnaut constituency.

He transitioned to national politics in 1989, winning the Barh Lok Sabha seat. He served in the Union Cabinet under V.P. Singh and later A.B. Vajpayee, holding portfolios like Railways, Agriculture, and Surface Transport. He is credited with introducing railway reforms such as internet booking and the “tatkal" scheme.

Kumar as the CM

In 2000, Kumar served as the CM for just seven days after a hung assembly before resigning.

Returning to power in 2005 with the BJP, he focused on restoring law and order, infrastructure, and women’s empowerment (notably the bicycle scheme for schoolgirls). This earned him the nickname “Sushashan Babu" (Good Governance Man).

The shifts in alliance

From 2013, Kumar became known for frequent shifts in political allegiance, often referred to as “U-turns" or the moniker “Paltu Ram".

He broke with the BJP in 2013 over Narendra Modi’s elevation and formed the Mahagathbandhan with the RJD in 2015, only to return to the NDA in 2017.

Between 2022 and 2024, he switched from the NDA to the Mahagathbandhan (joining the INDIA bloc) and back again to the NDA.

He led the NDA to a significant win in the 2025 assembly elections, taking oath for a record 10th time.

What next for Bihar?

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will convene a legislative meeting today to formally elect a new leader.

A new Chief Minister and cabinet are expected to take the oath as early as tomorrow, April 15, 2026.

As a Rajya Sabha MP, Nitish Kumar is expected to play a guiding role for the new state government while focusing on broader national issues.

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