Why Nitish Kumar May Not Be Bihar CM Again after Elections 2025
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar inspects elevated road project (Image BIHAR IPRD)
Opposition in Bihar Fancies Best Chance to Wrest Power from ‘Tired’ Nitish Kumar
By MANISH ANAND
NEW DELHI, July 17, 2025 — Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has enjoyed a two-decade-long dominance over the state’s politics, nearly earning the tag of a sine qua non. The people of Bihar have repeatedly voted for him, haunted by the memory of the dreaded days of ‘Jungle Raj’, when staying out past sunset felt ominous.
Conveniently switching allies at will, Kumar has treated both friends and foes with equal contempt. He has long held the belief that without him, no government could be formed in Bihar.
But two decades of political and physical wear and tear have dulled the shine of the incumbent Chief Minister. He now appears increasingly reliant on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s election management skills to stay in power.
The once-grand edifice of Kumar’s governance has been significantly eroded—largely by his ambitious but flawed prohibition policy. The rise of a parallel liquor mafia, evidenced by frequent media reports, has weakened the Chief Minister’s grip on his administration.
Law and order have become the biggest casualties of Kumar’s increasingly fragile hold on the state machinery. Killings of businessmen make headlines with alarming regularity. Of particular concern within the NDA is growing anger in the Vaishya community—a traditional BJP vote bank in Bihar. Despite appointing several state unit chiefs from the Vaishya caste, the community reportedly feels disillusioned by the frequency of murders and extortion, which seem to occur with impunity.
The ghost of ‘Jungle Raj’ no longer lies dormant. It is out—and seemingly roaming the streets of Bihar. The whip of law and order that Kumar once wielded against the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) appears to have lost its sting.
In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, the Mahagathbandhan—comprising the RJD, Congress, CPI (ML), CPI, and CPI (M)—secured 1,56,91,499 votes. The NDA—then consisting of the BJP, JD(U), VIP, and HAM—polled 1,57,02,650 votes. The NDA managed to retain power by a razor-thin margin of just 11,151 votes.
Political observers in Patna believe the electoral balance in Bihar remains finely poised. The Opposition alliance may suffer if a significant number of names are deleted in the ongoing special intensive revision of the electoral rolls. Yet, even if the Opposition is dented by the revision, observers argue that the ruling NDA faces two formidable enemies—lawlessness and joblessness.
(This is an opinion piece, and views expressed are those of the author only)
Follow The Raisina Hills on WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn
About The Author
