In a stunning political comeback that silenced his critics, Janata Dal (United) supremo Nitish Kumar has led his party to a spectacular victory in the Bihar Assembly elections, nearly doubling its seat count from the 2020 polls and cementing his position as the state's longest-serving Chief Minister.
The Underdog's Triumph
On Friday, November 15, 2025, the JD(U) under Nitish Kumar's leadership delivered a performance that defied all assumptions and pre-election chatter about his fading political relevance. The party's remarkable achievement ensures that Kumar's 20-year unbroken run as Bihar's Chief Minister will continue, extending his record as the state's longest-serving leader in that position.
What makes this victory particularly significant is that Kumar has never possessed the charismatic appeal of Lalu Prasad, the solid vote base of Ram Vilas Paswan, or the extensive party organization of the late Sushil Kumar Modi. Yet, he has consistently managed to carve his own political path and emerge victorious against all odds.
Schemes That Won Hearts
The run-up to the elections was filled with speculation about Kumar's future, with many dismissing his government's initiatives as signs of desperation. His administration's popular measures included free electricity up to 125 units and the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, which saw Rs 10,000 deposited into the accounts of more than 1 crore women as the first installment.
While detractors criticized these as a departure from Kumar's earlier opposition to freebies, those close to the Chief Minister insisted that these impressions were misplaced. They pointed to his thoughtful contributions even in subsidy schemes, such as suggesting solar panels on rooftops as an additional incentive.
As the campaign intensified, Kumar addressed 84 public meetings, effectively silencing murmurs about his failing health with his vigorous campaigning. The 74-year-old leader received overwhelming support on the ground, with particularly strong endorsement from women beneficiaries of his various schemes.
Building a Unique Political Base
Nitish Kumar's most significant achievement has been creating a unique political space in a state where caste traditionally determines electoral outcomes. Despite belonging to the Kurmi community, which comprises less than 4% of Bihar's population, Kumar successfully built a formidable coalition.
His support base includes the Extremely Backward Classes (a subset of non-Yadav OBCs), Mahadalits, and women - together accounting for more than 20% of Bihar's population. A JD(U) leader described the caste-neutral constituency of women as Kumar's biggest strength, a fact reflected in this election where women voters shattered all previous records, outperforming men in both turnout and absolute numbers.
Kumar's pro-women initiatives have been comprehensive, including free bicycles for girl students, 50% reservation in panchayats, prohibition, and the recent employment scheme. These measures have created a loyal women voter base that proved decisive in this election.
The JD(U) government also addressed youth concerns through measures like establishing an engineering college in each of Bihar's 38 districts, forming a Youth Commission to address young people's problems, and providing a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 to those between 18 and 25 years of age for two years.
As Nitish Kumar prepares to be sworn in as Chief Minister for the tenth time, his position within the NDA appears secure despite the BJP pressuring JD(U) to yield an equal number of seats (101) during seat-sharing negotiations. Having returned to the NDA after a series of political switches, sources indicate that Kumar is in the alliance to stay.
Though visibly slowing down, the political veteran often called the Bhishma Pitamah of Bihar politics has once again demonstrated his unmatched political acumen and resilience, proving that reports of his political demise were greatly exaggerated.
