Nitish Kumar

✦ Education

✦ Prior Role

CM Bihar (multiple terms since 2005); Union Minister (Railways) 1998–99

✦ Context & Governance Notes

Nitish Kumar has been Bihar's dominant political figure since 2005, serving multiple terms as CM. He has switched alliances between NDA and RJD (INDIA bloc) multiple times. He rejoined the NDA in January 2024 after breaking with the INDIA alliance. He is credited with significant improvement in Bihar's law-and-order situation, road infrastructure, and female education (Bihar is the first state to implement 50% reservation for women in local bodies). Critics point to Bihar remaining one of India's poorest states by per-capita income despite 18+ years of his governance.