Nitish Kumar: Bihar’s Architect of “Sushasan”

Early Life and Education

Born on 1 March 1951 in Bakhtiarpur, a small town near Patna, Nitish Kumar grew up in a modest Kurmi family. His father, Ram Lakhan Singh, was a freedom fighter and Ayurvedic doctor. Nitish earned an electrical engineering degree from Bihar College of Engineering (now NIT Patna). While working briefly for the Bihar State Electricity Board, he became deeply influenced by the social-justice ideals of Jayaprakash Narayan. He often credits his disciplined, simple upbringing and education – emphasizing discipline, simplicity and responsibility – for shaping his life and values.

Entry into Politics and Early Struggles

Nitish’s political journey began in the 1970s during the JP Movement against the Emergency. He contested his first election in 1977 (on a Janata Party ticket) but lost. Undeterred, he continued grassroots work and won a Bihar Assembly seat in Harnaut in 1985. By the late 1980s, he moved to national politics as a Member of Parliament from Barh. In the early 1990s, he broke away from Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Janata Dal and, with George Fernandes, founded the Samata Party (1994). These were formative political struggles – persistent defeats, new party-building and rough coalition politics – that taught him resilience and patience. His first taste of power came in 2000 when he became Bihar’s chief minister for a week, but he used it to learn statecraft and governance.

Rise in Janata Dal (United) and Leadership in Bihar

Nitish’s fortunes turned after the Samata Party merged with Sharad Yadav’s Janata Dal faction in 2003 to form the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)]. Riding a wave of public support for change, the BJP–JD(U) alliance swept the 2005 Bihar elections. Nitish took office as CM in November 2005 with a strong mandate. He immediately embarked on a bold reform program: rebuilding roads and bridges, restoring law and order, expanding electricity and health services, and strengthening schools. These efforts earned him the nickname “Sushasan Babu” (Mr. Good Governance). Under his stewardship Bihar saw faster gains than the national average in key indicators: for example, by 2019-21 nearly 96% of Bihar households had electricity (up from 25% in 2005), and sanitation access more than tripled. In 2010 he was re-elected in a landslide. Throughout, he emphasized honest, transparent rule – famously declaring he would never compromise on the “three Cs” (crime, corruption and communalism) – and kept his family largely out of politics.

Key Alliances and Political Re-alignments

Nitish’s career has been marked by strategic alliances. From 2005 to 2013 he led Bihar’s NDA government with the BJP. In 2013, disagreeing with BJP’s leadership choice, he quit the alliance and helped form the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) with Lalu Prasad’s RJD and Congress. The Grand Alliance won in 2015, making him CM again. Two years later (2017) he broke with the RJD over corruption allegations and rejoined the NDA, proving again his pragmatic streak. In the 2020 election he retained power as NDA’s leader. In August 2022 he once more left the NDA and briefly led a Grand Alliance government with the RJD. Finally in January 2024 he switched back to the NDA, resuming a BJP alliance (earning him a ninth chief ministerial term). These shifts – whether with the BJP or with regional partners – highlight how Nitish balances ideology with results; he has said the goal is Bihar’s development, not personal power.

Major Governance Achievements

Infrastructure

Roads and bridges multiplied. He famously recalled that before 2005 Bihar’s roads were "dilapidated" and rivers cut off districts from Patna. His government built scores of major bridges (e.g. the Veer Kunwar Singh Setu, JP Setu, Shrikrishna Singh Setu, and Kosi Mahasetu) and expanded road networks. Rural connectivity and power also leapt: Bihar’s household electrification rate grew from ~25% in 2005 to ~96% by 2020, one of his proudest infrastructure achievements.

Education

The state doubled its number of government schools (from ~54,000 in 2005 to ~76,000 by 2025) and massively boosted teacher recruitment and training. Out-of-school children fell from over 12% (in 2005) to under 2% by 2020. Nitish launched pioneering student support schemes: the Mukhyamantri Cycle Yojana (2006) gave ₹2,000 (cash or DBT) to Class-9 girls to buy bicycles. This broke social barriers to girls’ education and was emulated nationwide. By 2021, women in Bihar with more than 10 years of schooling had risen 3.5×, reaching 29%. Free school uniforms and hostel facilities expanded, further raising attendance. His education pushes even introduced digital learning: thousands of smart classrooms and AI-based programs under “Unnayan Bihar” have been rolled out in recent years.

Law & Order

Nitish made improving security and justice a priority. Early in his first term, crime statistics began declining, and he commissioned police reforms. He often reminds voters that before 2005 Bihar had a violent reputation, and that his work "fixed" law-and-order. For example, crime rates for murder, kidnapping and rape all fell from 2005 into 2006. Later years have seen an overall big drop in terror and left-wing insurgency incidents. He also overhauled the police and justice system to be more efficient. Though challenges remain, Nitish’s emphasis on safety helped change Bihar’s image; he quips that today being “Bihari” is a matter of pride, not insult.

Women’s Empowerment

From the start, Nitish cultivated women voters by concrete programs. The bicycle scheme itself gave girls mobility and confidence. Later schemes like Ladli Behna Yojana (cash grants to women) and expanded pensions for widows and the elderly were introduced. In 2025 his government unveiled a massive Direct Benefit Transfer “Mahila Rojgar Yojana”, depositing ₹10,000 each into 75 lakh women’s bank accounts to seed self-employment. These steps have paid off politically: women have broadly rewarded him at the polls, as even rival communities acknowledge that "Nitish is not the leader of one caste – he has a mass base" that includes a coalition of female voters.

Relevance in Indian Politics (2021–2025)

By 2025, Nitish Kumar was one of India’s longest-serving Chief Ministers and a key OBC leader. In national politics he oscillates between alliances but remains influential. As of late 2025 he led the NDA in Bihar again, helping secure a historic landslide in the October–November 2025 elections. In that contest, his BJP-JD(U) coalition won about two-thirds of the 243 seats (crossing the 200-mark) – an outcome no four-term government had assured itself of until then. Analysts attribute this victory to widespread voter trust in Nitish’s governance record. The result puts Nitish in a league with leaders like Jyoti Basu and Naveen Patnaik as CMs with 20+ year tenures. Beyond Bihar, he remains a national figure: his JD(U) was briefly a founding member of the INDIA opposition bloc in 2023–24, and then rejoined the NDA, reflecting his emphasis on practical alliances. Throughout, he has often said only NDA can deliver Bihar’s development, signaling his comfort in working with the ruling party when it serves state interests.

Public Image and Leadership Philosophy

Nitish Kumar’s public image is built on simplicity and integrity. He is often described as frugal and humble – the opposite of a dynastic politician. In media and public discourse he is routinely called “Sushasan Babu” for his clean image and governance focus. He has kept family ties out of politics and practices what he preaches: upon marriage in 1973 he famously returned all dowry received. Colleagues and journalists note that he communicates soberly and sticks to developmental agendas. He explicitly champions three principles: no compromise on crime, corruption or communalism. His speeches and campaign messages emphasize inclusive development for all castes and communities. Colleagues say Nitish’s style is pragmatic rather than ideological: he is willing to change partners if it aligns with his vision of progress. Importantly, he repeatedly tells voters that Bihar "was an insult to be called a Bihari" under neglect and that his team has worked "day and night with full honesty and hard work" to change that reality.

Lessons from His Journey

Integrity and Hard Work: Consistent emphasis on honesty and sincere effort has defined his career. He often reminds others that "working day and night with honesty" can transform a society.

Persistence Pays: Early defeats did not deter him. Losing the 1977 election only made him more determined to serve. He showed that persistence and grassroots work can turn around a political career.

Pragmatism and Adaptability: Nitish’s alliances changed, but he argues the motive was Bihar’s welfare. He teaches that rigid ideology should not come at the cost of development. By realigning when needed, he kept pushing state agendas forward.

Inclusive Governance: Building broad coalitions – cutting across caste and religion – has been central to his success. His focus on uplifting backward classes, Dalits (Mahadalits), women and minorities shows that listening to and empowering all sections can earn lasting loyalty.

Leading by Example: From modest personal habits to returning dowry, Nitish led with example. His image underlines that a clean, disciplined personal life strengthens public trust.

In sum, Nitish Kumar’s biography is one of steady rise from a small-town engineer to a storied chief minister. Despite fierce political storms, he remained anchored to principles of development and good governance. His tenure teaches that even in one of India’s poorest states, determined leadership – focusing on tangible improvements and ethical conduct – can steadily improve lives and inspire the electorate.