Is Nitish Kumar looking forward to becoming CM again without facing voters directly?
Bihar’s longest-serving CM Nitish Kumar has never directly contested the state assembly elections. Instead, he consistently chose the Legislative Council path to continue in office. Despite this, he maintained his political dominance, serving as the CM of Bihar since 2005.
Nitish Kumar, Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister, has never been a regular contender in state assembly elections. Despite having held the top job in the state for over 18 years, he chose an unconventional route to stay in power by becoming a member of the Legislative Council (MLC) rather than contesting for assembly seats directly. This choice has been a defining feature of his political career and has sparked much controversy over the years.
History of Limited Direct Elections
Nitish Kumar’s electoral journey began in 1977 when he contested the first Bihar Assembly election. He contested three consecutive elections in 1977, 1980 and 1985 and won only once, in 1985. However, after his victory in 1985, he shifted his focus from state-level politics to national politics. Over the years, it contested six Lok Sabha elections between 1989 and 2004 and successfully secured a seat in Parliament from Barh in 1989. His long tenure in the Lok Sabha included holding the Barh seat for four consecutive terms.
He contested both Barh and Nalanda in the 2004 general elections, winning only Nalanda, making it the last time he personally contested an election. Despite this, his political influence continued to grow and in 2005, Nitish assumed the role of Chief Minister of Bihar.
Avoiding Direct Parliamentary Elections
What distinguishes Nitish Kumar from many other politicians is that he consciously chooses to avoid direct participation in the Bihar Assembly elections. Instead of contesting for a parliamentary seat, he has consistently followed the Legislative Council (MLC) route; this route allowed him to retain power, bypassing the need for direct election to the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
Nitish was not an MLA when he first assumed the CM post in 2000 and resigned after failing to secure an assembly seat within eight days. This situation was not repeated in 2005; He took office as Prime Minister once again without holding a legislative seat and was subsequently elected to the Bihar Legislative Council.
In 2012, after completing his first term as MLC, Nitish Kumar defended his election to the Legislative Council and said: ‘Since the Upper House is a respected body, I chose to become an MLC of my own accord and not due to any duress.’ This statement reflected his view that the Legislative Council provides a platform for broader-based political participation and allows him to focus on governance without being tied to a single constituency.
Role of Legislative Council in Bihar
Bihar is one of six states in India with a Legislative Council, which provides a mechanism for ministers to take office without being directly elected by the state assembly. This makes it possible for Chief Minister like Nitish Kumar to serve without being an MLA as long as he is elected to the Legislative Council within a reasonable period of time.
Nitish Kumar’s first term as MLC ended in 2012 and he was re-elected, securing the post until 2018. During his tenure as Prime Minister, he chose to focus on his administrative duties while serving as MLC and continued to implement this decision in the following years. In 2018, he was re-elected to the Legislative Council for a third consecutive term, which will last until 2024. His re-election in March 2024 enabled him to continue serving in the Legislative Council until 2030.
Nitish’s reasons for not contesting the Assembly
Nitish Kumar has consistently stated that his decision not to contest the assembly elections is a matter of personal choice and not a political compulsion. In his speech at the centenary celebrations of the Bihar Legislative Council in January 2012, he reaffirmed that his decision was based on his belief in the importance of the Upper House and the broader political opportunities it provides.
In 2015, ahead of the state assembly elections, Nitish once again announced that he would not contest the assembly polls, citing his desire to avoid narrowing his focus to a single seat. This statement reinforced his long-standing preference for broader political reach rather than tying himself to a particular constituency.
2025 Bihar Assembly Elections
The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases: November 6 and November 11, with counting of votes scheduled on November 14. Despite his long tenure as Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar is not directly participating in the elections. Instead, Bihar’s leadership continues to shape Bihar’s political landscape from the top, remaining a dominant force in state politics even if not directly elected by the assembly.
Nitish Kumar’s refusal to directly participate in assembly elections has been a defining feature of his political career, especially in his role as the Chief Minister of Bihar. By choosing the Legislative Council route, Nitish has avoided the need to contest individual assembly seats while remaining a prominent figure in Bihar’s politics. His long tenure and political strategy underscore his focus on governance rather than personal electoral battles. With the 2025 elections approaching, it will be interesting to see how his political journey in the state of Bihar continues to evolve.
