Dynastic Politics in Bihar: Nitish Kumar's Son Joins a Long Tradition
Patna: Nitish Kumar, the current Chief Minister of Bihar, is not the first leader in the state to introduce his son into the political arena. This move has reignited debates over dynastic politics, a phenomenon deeply rooted in Bihar's history. A long list of former chief ministers have seen their sons and daughters enter politics, with many remaining active today, often fueling discussions about family dominance in public life.
Historical Precedents of Political Dynasties
Former chief ministers such as Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi, Jagannath Mishra, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Bhagwat Jha Azad are among those who paved the way for their children in politics. However, not all leaders followed this path. Veteran socialist leader and former chief minister Karpoori Thakur notably refrained from allowing any of his three sons or his only daughter to join politics during his lifetime. His son, Ramnath Thakur, entered the political field only after his father's demise.
Ramnath Thakur is currently a minister in the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. Reflecting on his father's stance, Ramnath stated, "My father Karpoori Thakur never wanted me to enter politics. He did not allow any of his three sons to join politics during his lifetime. I entered politics only after his death." He made these remarks while at the JD(U) office to witness the joining of Nishant, Nitish Kumar's son, into the party.
The Extensive Political Presence of Lalu Prasad's Family
Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi, both former chief ministers, have the most extensive family presence in Bihar's politics. Several of their nine children have held key positions in the government and parliamentary system. Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the youngest son and designated political successor to Lalu Prasad, served two terms as the deputy chief minister of Bihar and currently holds the post of leader of the opposition in the state assembly.
Tej Pratap Yadav, Lalu's eldest son, served as a cabinet minister in the state. In late 2025, he founded a new party, the Janshakti Janata Dal, following a public rift with his family. Misa Bharti, the eldest child of Lalu and Rabri, is the MP from the Patliputra seat and was previously a member of the Rajya Sabha from Bihar. Rohini Acharya, the second eldest daughter, contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Saran seat but announced her exit from politics in November 2025 due to internal family disputes.
Other Notable Political Heirs in Bihar
Santosh Kumar Suman, son of former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, is a cabinet minister in the Nitish Kumar-led government in Bihar. Nitish Mishra, son of Jagannath Mishra, also served as a cabinet minister in the JD(U)-BJP-led coalition government and is currently an MLA as a BJP leader.
Two of the three sons of former Bihar chief minister Bhagwat Jha Azad actively pursued careers in politics. Kirti Azad is the sitting MP from the Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency in West Bengal, representing the TMC, a seat he won in the 2024 general elections. Rajvardhan Azad is an MLC in Bihar. Kirti Azad spent over two decades with the BJP, serving as an MLA from Delhi's Gole Market and a three-time MP from Darbhanga, Bihar. He was suspended from the party in 2015 after targeting senior leadership over alleged corruption in the DDCA, later joining Congress in 2019 and contesting unsuccessfully from Dhanbad.
Additionally, former IPS officer Nikhil Kumar, son of Satyendra Narain Sinha, entered politics after his father's death, serving as an MP and later as the governor of Kerala and Nagaland.
