Patna/New Delhi: Nitish Kumar on Thursday stepped into political history once again, taking oath as Bihar’s Chief Minister for a record 10th term and officially entering the elite league of India’s longest-serving Chief Ministers. The oath-taking ceremony at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan turned into a major political show of strength, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and top NDA leadership in attendance.
The resounding mandate from the 2025 Assembly elections—where the NDA clinched 202 of 243 seats—has handed Kumar one of the strongest positions of his career. Alongside him, BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers, as 19 MLAs took oath in the first phase of cabinet formation. More than 20 ministers from JD(U) and BJP are expected to join the expanded council soon.
But beyond the political optics and the renewed NDA alliance, Thursday’s ceremony marked a personal milestone for Nitish Kumar. With a cumulative 19 years and 93 days in office, he has now secured a place among the Top 10 Longest-Serving Chief Ministers in India—a club reserved for the most enduring names in Indian politics.
India’s Longest-Serving Chief Ministers: The Top 10 Stalwarts
- Pawan Kumar Chamling (Sikkim): The record-holder with an unmatched 24 years and 165 days in office.
- Naveen Patnaik (Odisha): Close behind with 24 years and 99 days, a benchmark in political continuity.
- Jyoti Basu (West Bengal): A Left Front icon who helmed the state for 23 years and 137 days.
- Gegong Apang (Arunachal Pradesh): Spread across multiple terms, he clocked 22 years and 8 months.
- Lal Thanhawla (Mizoram): Across his various stints, he amassed 22 years and 60 days.
- Virbhadra Singh (Himachal Pradesh): A towering figure who served 21 years over several terms.
- Manik Sarkar (Tripura): India’s ‘cleanest CM’ spent 19 years and 363 days in the chair.
- Nitish Kumar (Bihar): Now joins this elite club with 19 years and 93 days, cumulatively.
- Karunanidhi (Tamil Nadu): The Dravidian veteran governed for 18 years and 362 days.
- Parkash Singh Badal (Punjab): Across multiple terms, he notched 18 years and 350 days.
As Nitish begins this landmark term—with a powerful mandate and national attention fixed on Bihar—the focus now shifts to governance. The challenges ahead remain steep: unemployment, poverty, rural distress, and the long-awaited push for industrial revival.
For now, however, Nitish Kumar stands not just as Bihar’s key political figure, but as one of India’s most seasoned and enduring leaders.
