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JANUARY 02, 2026 | The Indian Eye 8

TOP NEWSMAKERS OF 2025

Nitish Kumar: The Making of a National

Leader Through a Historic Mandate

With a record tenth term as Chief Minister after a sweeping 2025 victory, Nitish Kumar has reinforced

his stature as one of India’s most durable leaders and a consequential figure in national politics.

n November 2025, Nitish Kumar a “Developed Bihar.” Central to this
returned to office as Chief Minis- vision is a plan to generate 10 million
Iter of Bihar for an unprecedented jobs over the next five years, reflecting
tenth time, a milestone rarely seen in an acute awareness of Bihar’s demo-
Indian democracy. Sworn in on No- graphic pressures and the aspirations
vember 20 following a landslide vic- of its youth.
tory for the National Democratic Al- The government has also moved
liance (NDA) in the Bihar Assembly to position Bihar as an emerging cen-
elections, Kumar’s latest mandate was ter for technology and industry in
more than a personal triumph. It was eastern India. Proposals for a defense
a resounding endorsement of his gov- corridor and the development of tech-
ernance model and a signal that his nological hubs are intended to attract
political influence now extends well investment and diversify the state’s
beyond the borders of Bihar. economic base. In parallel, symbolic
The 2025 Bihar Assembly elec- and substantive investments in sports
tions, held in two phases on Novem- and culture have gained momentum.
ber 6 and November 11 with results The inauguration of the world-class
declared on November 14, delivered Rajgir Sports Complex and Cricket
a decisive verdict. The NDA secured Stadium aims to nurture sporting tal-
202 of the 243 seats in the Assembly, ent, while institutions such as the APJ
a commanding majority that left lit- Abdul Kalam Science City in Patna
tle doubt about voter sentiment. The signal a commitment to scientific tem-
Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the per and education.
single largest party with 89 seats, while Cultural and civilizational heritage
Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) fol- has not been neglected. Projects like the
lowed closely with 85 seats. Alliance Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum and
partners such as the Lok Janshakti Nitish Kumar with Prime Minister Modi (ANI) Memorial Stupa in Vaishali reflect an
Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam effort to link development with Bihar’s
Morcha, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha ticularly in areas that directly affect Women’s welfare has been a historical identity, while also boost-
added to the scale and breadth of the everyday life. Law and order, once a consistent pillar of Kumar’s political ing tourism and global engagement.
victory, underlining the cohesion of defining weakness of Bihar, became an identity. The decision to provide bi- Nitish Kumar’s political journey
the coalition. early focus of his tenure. Improvements cycles to school-going girls, aimed at has often been marked by adaptabil-
Kumar’s return for a tenth term in policing and administrative account- reducing dropout rates, proved to be ity and strategic recalibration. Critics
placed him in rare company and ability helped change perceptions of a quiet revolution in social policy. The have pointed to his shifting allianc-
earned recognition from the World the state and created the foundation scheme significantly increased school es over the years, but his supporters
Book of Records, underscoring the for subsequent development efforts. attendance and contributed to a rise in argue that this flexibility has allowed
historical significance of the moment. Among his most widely cited ini- female literacy. Complementing this him to safeguard Bihar’s interests and
The oath-taking ceremony at Pat- tiatives is the Jeevika Project, formally was the introduction of a 50 percent secure stability.
na’s Gandhi Maidan was deliberate- known as the Bihar Rural Livelihood reservation for women in Panchayati Today, as the longest-serving
ly grand and symbolic, attended by Project. Supported by the World Raj institutions, a move that reshaped Chief Minister in Bihar’s history and
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bank, Jeevika has transformed rural local governance and brought women a leader with proven electoral appeal,
senior leaders from across the NDA. livelihoods by organizing millions of into leadership roles across rural Bihar. Nitish Kumar occupies a distinctive
The message was clear: Bihar’s verdict women into self-help groups. These Infrastructure development has place in national politics. His ability to
mattered nationally, and Nitish Ku- “Jeevika Didis” have been linked to been another defining feature of Ku- combine welfare-driven governance
mar remained central to the alliance’s formal banking, access to credit, and mar’s long tenure. Village electrifi- with coalition management has made
political narrative. skill training, enabling them to be- cation, expansion of road networks, him a reference point in debates on
Over the years, Kumar has culti- come economic actors in their own and improvements in basic public ser- federal leadership. The tenth term is
vated a reputation as an administrator right. The project has been credited vices have altered the state’s physical not merely a record; it is a statement
focused on delivery rather than rhet- not only with improving household in- and economic landscape. In his cur- that Nitish Kumar has evolved from a
oric. His governance philosophy has comes but also with shifting social dy- rent term, which began in November regional stalwart into a national lead-
rested on what his supporters describe namics by enhancing women’s agency 2025, Kumar has outlined an ambi- er whose influence will continue to
as “performance-based schemes,” par- at the grassroots level. tious agenda aligned with the idea of shape India’s political discourse.

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