Nitish Kumar Takes Oath as Bihar CM for 10th Time

• JD(U)-BJP alliance secures decisive mandate in Bihar
• Record 66.91% voter turnout; women outvoted men
• BJP wins 89 seats, JD(U) 85; opposition collapses to 35
• Swearing-in marks Kumar’s 10th term in two decades

GG News Bureau
Patna, 20th Nov: Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Chief Minister of Bihar on Thursday after the NDA alliance secured a sweeping victory in the assembly polls. This marks his 10th term in office, reinforcing his continued dominance in state politics.

The NDA clinched 202 out of 243 seats, with the BJP winning 89 and JD(U) securing 85. Alliance partners — Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha — accounted for the remaining 28 seats.

The swearing-in took place in Patna, a day after JD(U) legislators elected Kumar as their leader and alliance partners gave their support. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the outcome as a triumph of democratic participation.

The election witnessed a record turnout of 66.91%, the highest since 1951, with women voting in larger numbers than men. The opposition alliance of the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and smaller parties was restricted to just 35 seats.

Despite allegations from the opposition regarding voter list revisions, both the BJP and the Election Commission rejected claims of electoral manipulation.

Kumar now returns to lead one of India’s poorest states, where job migration remains a major concern, as the political focus shifts to upcoming elections in West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.