Nitish Kumar’s political career timeline

Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has a history of changing alliances three times. Even after the alliance between the BJP and RJD kept changing, Mr. Kumar managed to win all the elections held since 2005 and became the Prime Minister seven times.

Mr. Kumar entered politics as a member of the Janata Dal and was elected to the State Assembly as an MLA in 1985. As someone who lobbied for Lalu Prasad, Mr. Kumar had Mr. Prasad’s full support for the Prime Minister’s post in 1990. But in 1994, a group of 14 Janata Dal MPs revolted against Mr Prasad, lining up behind socialist stalwart George Fernandes. Janata Dal (George) group. While Fernandes was the face of the group, Mr Kumar was its creator. The group later renamed itself Samata Party.

In 1996, Mr Kumar switched his allegiance to the BJP. He became Prime Minister for the first time in 2000, but his tenure lasted only seven days. He became Prime Minister again in 2005. In 2015, he joined the Mahagathbandhan, changed sides again and became the Prime Minister again. However, the partnership did not last long. He returned to the NDA and won the election again in 2020, becoming the Prime Minister again.

A look at Nitish Kumar’s political career through the years

1985: Nitish Kumar elected to State Assembly

1989: Leader of Opposition backs Lalu Prasad in usurping his seat

1994: A group of 14 Janata Dal MPs rose up against Lalu Prasad, lining up behind socialist stalwart George Fernandes, and named the group Janata Dal (George). While Fernandes was the face of the group, Mr Kumar was its creator. The group later renamed itself Samata Party.

1996: He switches his allegiance to the BJP

From 1998 to 2004: He held various positions as Minister of Railways, Land Transport and Agriculture in the NDA government under AB Vajpayee.

2000: He became the Chief Minister of Bihar for the first time with the support of the BJP-led NDA. He resigned seven days later after failing to prove his majority in the parliament.

2003: Samata Party officially merged with Janata Dal (United)

2005: Mr Kumar becomes Chief Minister of Bihar with BJP as coalition partner

2010: NDA wins and Mr Kumar becomes Prime Minister again

2013: The alliance with the BJP broke down when it became clear that Narendra Modi was the prime ministerial candidate of the BJP.

2015: He forms an alliance with Lalu Prasad and forms a grand alliance (Mahagathbandhan) with the Congress by contesting the Assembly elections. becomes CM

2017: He makes another U-turn and decides to form an alliance with the BJP to form the government in the state. He was sworn in as CM for the sixth time, this time with the help of the BJP.

2020: NDA won the election but JD(U)’s seat count dropped to 43. Mr. Kuman became the seventh CM.