In an unprecedented political achievement, JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar scripted history on Thursday by taking oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record tenth time. This remarkable feat establishes him as the only chief minister in India to have been sworn in so many times.
A Political Journey Spanning 25 Years
The veteran leader's political marathon began on March 3, 2000, when he first assumed the chief minister's office. However, his initial tenure lasted merely seven days as he couldn't secure the necessary numbers to prove majority. Despite this shaky start, Kumar persevered and has now completed over 19 years and three months as Bihar's chief minister within a span of 25 years.
What makes Kumar's achievement truly extraordinary is how he stands apart from other long-serving chief ministers across India. Comparative analysis reveals that none of the other longest-serving former CMs have taken oath more than seven times, despite having longer continuous tenures.
How Nitish Kumar Outpaces Other Veteran CMs
The statistics speak volumes about Kumar's unique political trajectory. While Sikkim's Pawan Kumar Chamling served as chief minister for over 25 years, Odisha's Naveen Patnaik for over 24 years, and West Bengal's Jyoti Basu for over 23 years, none of them required more than seven swearing-in ceremonies.
Other notable long-serving chief ministers include Arunachal Pradesh's Gegong Apang (over 22 years), Mizoram's Lal Thanhawla (over 22 years), Himachal Pradesh's Virbhadra Singh (over 21 years), and Tripura's Manik Sarkar (over 19 years) - all of whom took oath fewer times than Kumar.
The Strategy Behind Frequent Swearing-ins
A senior NDA leader revealed that the number of swearing-in events increased mainly because of Kumar's frequent swapping of allies after 2014. Government records substantiate this claim, showing that Kumar has taken oath as chief minister seven times in the last 10 years alone, since February 2015.
At 74 years of age, Nitish Kumar has achieved another significant milestone by extending his 19-year stint as CM and breaking into the national top-10 list of longest-serving heads of government. This elite group also includes Tamil Nadu's M Karunanidhi who served for over 18 years and Punjab's Parkash Singh Badal (over 18 years).
Kumar's political resilience and adaptability have not only made him Bihar's longest-serving chief minister but also created a national record that underscores his unique position in Indian politics.
