Historic Tenth: On Nitish Kumar Becoming Bihar's Longest-serving Chief Minister

Nitish Kumar reached yet another milestone on Thursday by becoming Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister. He took the oath of office for a record 10th term, just days after the NDA, comprising the Janata Dal (United), Bharatiya Janata Party, and others, won the Assembly elections with a record 202 seats out of the total 243. It was a massive mandate from the electorate for the alliance, and of course Nitish, who has proven once again that he has the trust and affection of the people. Ahead of the polls, it was made to look like everything was working against the 74-year-old political stalwart, from the anti-incumbency factor to speculations about his mental health spread by the Mahagathbandhan alliance. He was also not projected as the chief ministerial face of the NDA. Instead of wasting time countering and reacting to allegations, he concentrated on consolidating the position of his party. It paid dividends. The NDA’s barrage of welfare schemes, which included free electricity, a hike in social security pension and the transfer of INR 10,000 to millions of women, which raised many eyebrows regarding the Election Commission’s decision to allow it during the campaign, did make a significant impact on the outcome of the polls. However, Nitish remained at the centre of the state’s politics throughout the election process. He had complete control over his game, focusing more on action rather than resorting to rhetoric. Most importantly, Biharis still trusted him and did not resonate with talks about his failing mental health. The results of the election speak for themselves.

But as the dust of victory settles, attention will turn to the tall promises made by the NDA in the run-up to the high-stakes polls. Nitish, who has earned the title “Sushasan Babu” for introducing several reforms to the state during his two decades of leadership, now has a significant responsibility as he assumes the top post once again. The fact is, Bihar continues to feature among the least developed states in the country despite noticeable progress made in various fields over the years. So, he will be expected to accelerate the economy of the state and address the perpetual unemployment and migration issues by creating enough jobs for the people. Another big challenge he will need to address is fulfilling pre-poll promises. While freebies and welfare schemes may provide short relief, they could have a toll on the state’s financial health and eat into the developmental outlay. So, the new government will face the challenge of maintaining a fiscal balance amid rising expenditure. The Nitish government should work with renewed determination to elevate Bihar's economic and social growth. The expectations are high.