Nitish Kumar sworn in as Bihar chief minister for a record 10th term

Patna: Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record-extending 10th term on Thursday morning at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan, capping a sweeping victory in last week’s Assembly election.

The Janata Dal (United) chief — often dismissed by critics as “too old” or “past his prime” — returned to power with a decisive mandate as the JD(U) won 85 of the state’s 243 seats, powering the party and its key ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party, to a landslide. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance ultimately secured 202 seats.

The grand ceremony doubled as a show of political strength; Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, and leaders of allied governments, including Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, were present. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav called the mandate “a reaffirmation of development,” saying Bihar would “progress with PM Modi’s blessings and good governance.”

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan administered the oath of office, with Kumar taking his oath on the Constitution of India.

Nitish Kumar, already the eighth-longest-serving chief minister in India, is set to break a national record if he completes this term — surpassing Sikkim’s Pawan Chamling, who served for 24 years.

Nineteen ministers were sworn in alongside Kumar, beginning with BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary, Vijay Sinha, and Dilip Jaiswal — all experienced hands expected to anchor the new cabinet. Choudhary and Sinha, both deputy chief ministers in the previous government, may return to those posts. Jaiswal, meanwhile, served briefly as Revenue Minister.

The BJP also inducted Sanjay Kumar Singh, Pramod Kumar, and Lakhendra Raushan; Pramod Kumar previously handled key portfolios including Law, Sugarcane, and Art & Culture. Other BJP entrants included Rama Nishad, Narayan Prasad, Surendra Mehta, Arun Shankar Prasad, Sanjay ‘Tiger’ Singh, and two-time MLA and competitive shooter Shreyasi Singh, the 34-year-old Commonwealth Games gold medallist who retained her Jamui seat.

Senior leader Ram Kripal Yadav — formerly with both the RJD and JD(U), and a past Union minister — was also sworn in, along with ex-Road Construction Minister Nitin Nabin.

With 14 ministers, the BJP retains its dominance over the JD(U), having edged ahead with 89 seats in the election. The JD(U), allotted six berths, was represented by veterans Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Shrawon Kumar, Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, and Ashok Choudhary. Yadav earlier oversaw the Energy department; Kumar led Rural Development; Chaudhary served as Water Resources Minister; and Ashok Choudhary headed the Rural Works Department.

Former Minorities Welfare Minister Mohd Zama Khan was re-inducted, while five-term MLA Leshi Singh, ex-Social Welfare Minister Madan Sahni, and two-time Bhore MLA Sunil Kumar also secured positions.

Three smaller allies — Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party, Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustan Awam Morcha, and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Manch — received one berth each. From the HAM and the RLM, the party chiefs’ sons, Santosh Manjhi and Deepak Prakash, were sworn in. Prakash becomes a first-time minister, while Santosh Manjhi earlier held the Information Technology and Disaster Management portfolio.