Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Chief Minister of Bihar for a record-breaking tenth time on Thursday at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan, marking a resounding comeback for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. The ceremony doubled as a powerful display of NDA unity and electoral strength after the coalition swept last week’s Assembly polls with 202 of 243 seats.

The Janata Dal (United), long seen as the NDA’s pivotal regional anchor, delivered an emphatic performance by winning 85 seats, silencing critics who had questioned Nitish Kumar’s age, political relevance, and ability to lead. Backed strongly by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the NDA’s decisive mandate reaffirmed its dominance in Bihar’s political landscape.

Gandhi Maidan turned into a showcase of national-level coalition solidarity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with chief ministers of BJP-ruled states and leaders of key allies such as Andhra Pradesh’s N. Chandrababu Naidu, attended the ceremony. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav hailed the moment, declaring that Bihar was “once again on the path of development” under the NDA’s governance model.

Nitish Kumar—often credited for his political adaptability—now extends his stature as one of India’s longest-serving chief ministers. If he completes this term, he will surpass Pawan Chamling’s record 24-year tenure, further cementing the NDA’s political continuity in Bihar.

Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Chief Minister of Bihar for a record-breaking tenth time on Thursday at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan, marking a resounding comeback for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. The ceremony doubled as a powerful display of NDA unity and electoral strength after the coalition swept last week’s Assembly polls with 202 of 243 seats.

The Janata Dal (United), long seen as the NDA’s pivotal regional anchor, delivered an emphatic performance by winning 85 seats, silencing critics who had questioned Nitish Kumar’s age, political relevance, and ability to lead. Backed strongly by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the NDA’s decisive mandate reaffirmed its dominance in Bihar’s political landscape.

Gandhi Maidan turned into a showcase of national-level coalition solidarity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with chief ministers of BJP-ruled states and leaders of key allies such as Andhra Pradesh’s N. Chandrababu Naidu, attended the ceremony. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav hailed the moment, declaring that Bihar was “once again on the path of development” under the NDA’s governance model.

Nitish Kumar—often credited for his political adaptability—now extends his stature as one of India’s longest-serving chief ministers. If he completes this term, he will surpass Pawan Chamling’s record 24-year tenure, further cementing the NDA’s political continuity in Bihar.