From a 7-Day Government to a 10th Term – What Drives Nitish Kumar’s Comeback?

From 7 Days in 2000 to a Strong Comeback in 2025: Nitish Kumar Back as Bihar CM for the 10th Time!

Nitish Kumar is set to take oath as Bihar chief minister for the 10th time. The NDA won a strong majority in the state and cleared the path for his return. This moment also brings back memories of his first short term in 2000. That term lasted only about a week and ended before a trust vote.

A Fractured Mandate and a Short-Lived First Term

His first term began after the February 2000 Bihar assembly elections. The result was a fractured mandate as no party crossed the majority mark. The JD(U) and BJP-led NDA secured 122 seats. Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD won 124. Both remained below the mark needed to form a stable government.

Still, Governor Vinod Chandra Pande invited Nitish Kumar to form the government. He took the oath on March 3, 2000. The NDA hoped to gather more support from smaller parties and independents. The RJD also tried to bring more MLAs to its side. The political scene turned tense as talks continued day and night, with both sides looking for numbers.

Resignation Before the Trust Vote and a Turning Point

At one point, the NDA claimed support from 151 MLAs, but this figure was still short. Nitish Kumar soon realised he did not have enough backing to win the floor test. Losing the vote could have caused more damage to his position. To avoid that situation, he resigned on March 10, before the trust vote. Rabri Devi returned as chief minister, and Bihar entered a stretch of political uncertainty.

This brief one-week term became an important event in Nitish Kumar’s career. It showed the unstable nature of Bihar’s coalition politics at the time. It also showed his ability to step back when the numbers were not in his favour. Five years later, in 2005, he returned with a clear mandate and began a long phase of development-focused governance.

Now, as he takes the oath for the 10th time, Nitish Kumar stands in a very different position. The NDA’s strong majority gives him a stable base. His allies stand with him, and he plans to continue his work on development. His journey from a seven-day government to one of India’s longest-serving chief ministers mirrors the state’s experience, strategy, and political survival, which are known to change frequently.