In a historic political moment, Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record tenth time on Thursday, November 20, 2025. The grand ceremony took place at Patna's iconic Gandhi Maidan, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior political leaders.
Grand Swearing-In Ceremony at Gandhi Maidan
The stage was set for a monumental political event as thousands gathered at the historic Gandhi Maidan to witness Nitish Kumar's unprecedented tenth oath-taking ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP national president JP Nadda were among the distinguished guests who attended the high-profile event, underscoring the significance of the occasion for the National Democratic Alliance.
The ceremony comes exactly one day after Nitish Kumar was unanimously elected as the leader of the NDA legislature party during a crucial meeting of 202 newly elected MLAs in the Central Hall of the Bihar Assembly. The JD(U) had previously elected Nitish as the leader of its legislature party in a separate meeting, setting the stage for his return to the chief minister's office.
NDA's Landslide Victory and Ministry Formation
The National Democratic Alliance's return to power follows their spectacular performance in the recently concluded Bihar Assembly elections, where they secured a commanding majority with 202 out of 243 seats. The seat distribution among alliance partners saw the BJP emerging as the largest party with 89 seats, closely followed by JD(U) with 85 seats. Other alliance partners including LJP(RV) with 19 seats, HAM with 5 seats, and RLM with 4 seats contributed to the massive victory.
According to reliable sources, a total of 20 ministers, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, took oath during the swearing-in ceremony. The ministry formation follows intense negotiations between alliance partners, particularly regarding key positions in the new government.
Speaker Position and Political Negotiations
In a significant development, BJP sources confirmed that the party had negotiated vigorously with JD(U) to retain the crucial post of Assembly Speaker. Senior BJP leader and former minister Prem Kumar is expected to be appointed as the new Speaker, marking an important power-sharing arrangement within the ruling coalition.
The political bargaining reflects the careful balance of power within the NDA, with both major partners securing key positions in the new government setup. This arrangement aims to ensure smooth functioning of the legislative assembly and maintain coalition harmony.
Nitish Kumar's record tenth term as chief minister cements his position as one of India's most enduring political leaders, while the NDA's massive mandate indicates strong public support for the alliance's governance agenda in Bihar. The presence of national leaders at the ceremony highlights the importance of Bihar in national politics and the central government's commitment to the state's development.
