Nitish Kumar has once again taken oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar, marking his tenth term in the position. This political milestone has sparked discussions about his place in Indian political history, particularly regarding the duration of his service.
The Record Holders: Who Tops the List?
Despite serving ten separate terms as Bihar's chief minister, Nitish Kumar does not feature among the top five longest-serving chief ministers in India. The political landscape of India has seen several leaders who have maintained their positions for remarkably extended periods, outpacing Kumar's cumulative tenure.
The record for the longest-serving chief minister in India belongs to Pawan Kumar Chamling of Sikkim, who held office for an impressive 24 years and 166 days from 1994 to 2019. Following him is Jyoti Basu, who served as West Bengal's chief minister for 23 years and 137 days between 1977 and 2000.
Nitish Kumar's Political Journey
Nitish Kumar's political career in Bihar has been marked by significant stability compared to many other states, yet his cumulative time in office hasn't been sufficient to break into the upper echelons of India's longest-serving chief ministers. His first term began in 2000, though it lasted only seven days. He returned to power in 2005 and has since maintained a dominant presence in Bihar politics.
Kumar's tenure has seen numerous political shifts and alliance changes, contributing to his multiple swearing-in ceremonies. The recent oath-taking ceremony on November 20, 2025 continues his political dominance in the state, even as the assembly election results from various constituencies across Bihar were being declared.
Understanding the Rankings
The measurement of longest-serving chief ministers typically considers continuous tenure rather than cumulative terms. This distinction explains why some leaders with fewer individual terms but longer uninterrupted service periods rank higher than Kumar.
Other chief ministers who surpass Kumar in tenure include Gegong Apang of Arunachal Pradesh (22 years, 8 months), Naveen Patnaik of Odisha (over 20 years and continuing), and Shivraj Singh Chouhan of Madhya Pradesh (over 17 years). These leaders have demonstrated remarkable political longevity in their respective states.
While Nitish Kumar's achievement of ten separate terms as chief minister is undoubtedly significant in Indian politics, the continuous service records of other leaders place them higher in the all-time rankings. This context helps understand where Kumar stands in the broader landscape of Indian political leadership.
