Nitish Kumar: Chief Minister of Bihar

Nitish Kumar, the longest-serving Chief Minister of Bihar has initiated several schemes to provide employment, education, and healthcare to the people of Bihar. He has also taken steps to improve the law and order situation in the state.

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Introduction of Nitish Kumar

Nitish Kumar is an Indian politician. Nitish Kumar is serving as Chief Minister of Bihar since 22 February 2015, having previous held the office from 2005 to 2014 and for a short period in 2000. He is the leader of the Janata Dal (United), a regional party that is part of the United Progressive Alliance. He has also served as a Union Minister in the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, with his party joining the National Democratic Alliance. He is known for his development-oriented policies and initiatives such as improving road connectivity, providing electricity, promoting women’s empowerment, and enforcing prohibition in Bihar.

KEY POINTS

• Nitish Kumar is a popular leader in Bihar.
• He is known for his simplicity and his commitment to the welfare of the people.
• He is a hope for the people of Bihar and he is working hard to make the state a better place to live.

Early Life and Education of Nitish Kumar

Nitish Kumar was born on March 1, 1951, in Bakhtiarpur, Bihar, India. His father, Kaviraj Ram Lakhan Singh, was an ayurvedic practitioner; his mother was Parmeshwari Devi from Nepal. Nitish belongs to Kurmi agricultural caste. Nitish Kumar’s Nickname Is ‘Munna’. He earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from Bihar College of Engineering (now NIT Patna) in 1972. He joined the Bihar State Electricity Board, half-heartedly, and later moved into politics. He married Manju Kumari Sinha (1955-2007) on 22 February 1973 and the couple has one son. Manju Sinha died in New Delhi on 14 May 2007 due to pneumonia.

Political Career of Nitish Kumar

Nitish Kumar first entered politics as a member of the Janata Dal, becoming an MLA in 1985. A socialist, Kumar founded the Samata Party in 1994 along with George Fernandes. He served as the Railway Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 1998 to 1999.

In 2000, Kumar became the Chief Minister of Bihar for the first time. He was re-elected as the Chief Minister in 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. He has been the longest-serving Chief Minister of Bihar.

As the Chief Minister of Bihar, Kumar has implemented several reforms, including the prohibition of alcohol, the introduction of the mid-day meal scheme, and the construction of toilets. He has also worked to improve the law and order situation in the state.

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Political Achievements of Nitish Kumar

Nitish Kumar has been praised for his achievements as the Chief Minister of Bihar. He has been credited with improving the law and order situation in the state, reducing poverty, and improving the education and healthcare system.

Some of the political achievements of Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar are:

He led the Janata Dal (United) to form a coalition government with the BJP in 2005, ending the 15-year rule of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal. He was credited for restoring law and order, improving governance, and initiating development projects in the state.

He won a second term in 2010 with a landslide victory, securing 206 out of 243 seats in the assembly. He launched several welfare schemes, such as free bicycles for schoolgirls, free uniforms for students, and food security for the poor.

He broke away from the BJP in 2013 over the issue of Narendra Modi’s prime ministerial candidature and formed a grand alliance with the RJD and the Congress. He won a third term in 2015, defeating the BJP-led NDA. He focused on social justice, women empowerment, the prohibition of liquor, and infrastructure development.

He rejoined the NDA in 2017 after breaking ties with the RJD and the Congress over corruption charges against his then-deputy Tejashwi Yadav.

He won a fourth term in 2020, albeit with a reduced majority and a stronger BJP as his ally. He faced challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic, the migrant crisis, the farmers’ protests, and the anti-CAA agitation. He also faced criticism from his former allies and rivals, such as Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Chirag Paswan, and Kanhaiya Kumar.

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Developmental Achievements of Nitish Kumar

Some of Kumar’s major achievements include:

Prohibition of alcohol: Kumar banned the sale and consumption of alcohol in Bihar in 2016. This has led to a decline in crime and violence in the state.
Introduction of the mid-day meal scheme: Kumar introduced the mid-day meal scheme in Bihar in 2000. This scheme provides free meals to school children, which has helped to improve their nutrition and attendance.

Construction of toilets: Kumar launched a campaign to construct toilets in Bihar in 2016. This has helped to improve sanitation in the state and has also helped to reduce open defecation.

Some of the other developmental achievements are:

• He launched E-Shakti, an NREGS Program through which people in rural areas can gather employment information via telephone.
• He significantly diminished the crime rate and restored law and order in the state, which was notorious for its mafia rule and violence.
• He motivated the government to start meals and bicycle programs which encouraged girls to join school. He also provided free uniforms for students and food security for the poor.
• He focused on social justice, women empowerment, the prohibition of liquor, and infrastructure development. He implemented his flagship programs, such as ‘Saat Nischay’ (seven resolves) for youth welfare, ‘Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali’ (water-life-greenery) for environmental conservation, and ‘Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal’ (tap water for every household).

He improved the state’s economy and increased its growth rate. He also attracted investments and created employment opportunities in various sectors.

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Challenges of Nitish Kumar as a Chief Minister of Bihar

Nitish Kumar has been facing a number of challenges during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Bihar. Some of the most pressing challenges include:

Poverty: Bihar is one of the poorest states in India. According to the 2011 census, 39.1% of the population of Bihar lives below the poverty line.

Unemployment: Bihar also has a high unemployment rate. According to the 2011 census, the unemployment rate in Bihar is 13.3%.

Law and order: Bihar has a history of Naxalite violence. The Naxalites are a Maoist insurgent group that has been active in Bihar for decades.

Corruption: Bihar is also a corrupt state. According to the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, Bihar ranks 130 out of 180 countries in terms of corruption.

These challenges also faced by Nitish Kumar are:

• He has to deal with the growing influence and assertiveness of the BJP, his ally and rival, which has emerged as the dominant partner in the NDA coalition in Bihar.
• He has to balance his own interests and autonomy with the BJP’s agenda and demands.
• He has to revive his party’s electoral fortunes and regain his popularity among the voters, especially the backward castes and minorities, who have drifted away from him in recent years.
• He has to face the challenge of Tejashwi Yadav, who has emerged as a strong leader of the opposition and a potential successor.
• He has to address the issues of development, governance, health, education, employment, and social justice in Bihar, which remains one of the poorest and most backward states in India.
• He has to overcome the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic slowdown on the state’s finances and welfare schemes.

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What are some of the controversies involving Nitish Kumar?

Some of the controversies involving Nitish Kumar are:

He faced criticism for his frequent change of political alliances, especially his break-up and reunion with the BJP over Narendra Modi’s leadership. He was accused of being opportunistic and compromising on his secular credentials.

He was embroiled in a controversy over the alleged irregularities in the Srijan scam, which involved the embezzlement of over Rs 1,000 crore from the government treasury by a non-governmental organisation. He ordered a CBI probe into the matter, but the opposition demanded his resignation.

He was slammed for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and the migrant crisis, which exposed the poor state of health infrastructure and governance in Bihar. He was also accused of under-reporting the Covid-19 deaths and fudging the data.

He sparked a row over his remarks on some couplets of Ramcharitmanas, which he claimed were derogatory towards women. He later clarified that he did not intend to hurt anyone’s sentiments and that he respected all religions.

He faced backlash for his decision to impose a complete ban on liquor in Bihar, which was challenged in the courts and led to a rise in illegal trade and consumption of alcohol. He also faced protests from various sections of society, including women, who demanded a review of the policy.

Brief Profile of Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar

22/7/01-21/5/04	Union Cabinet Minister, Railways
2004	Re-elected to 14th Lok Sabha (6th term)
	Member, Committee on Coal & Steel
	Member, General Purposes Committee
	Member, Committee of Privileges
	Leader Janata Dal (U) Parliamentary Party, Lok Sabha
24/11/2005-24/11/2010	Chief Minister, Bihar
26/11/2010-17/05/2014	Chief Minister, Bihar
From 22/02/2015	Chief Minister, Bihar
Countries Visited
	Singapore, Thailand
	Havana (Cuba) and Moscow (Russia) – as a member of Indian Delegation to the World Youth Festival in 1978
	Australia and France – as a Member of Indian Parliamentary Delegation to the IPU Conference
	France, Switzerland, and UK – as the Railway Minister
	Japan – as the Agriculture Minister to attend Regional Conference of FAO in Yokohama
	China – as Chief Minister Bihar
Other Information
	Activist of J.P. Movement (1974-77)
	Detained in 1974 under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (M.I.S.A.) and during the Emergency in 1975
	Founder-member, Samata Party Movement

Nitish Kumar, 8th Times Chief Minister of Bihar: An Influential Leader and Potential Challenger in Indian Politics

Nitish Kumar is an Indian politician who has been the chief minister of Bihar eight times since 2000. He is the leader of the Janata Dal (United) party and a key figure in the opposition alliance against the BJP. He has also been involved in various political alliances and realignments, switching between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan at different times. He is currently heading a coalition government with the RJD and the Congress, after breaking ties with the BJP over the Pegasus snooping controversy. He is seen as a potential challenger to Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.