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- By Priyanka Koul
- Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Nitish Kumar Resigns: Like all political leaders of considerable stature, Nitish Kumar, who resigned as Bihar chief minister on Tuesday, leaves behind a mixed legacy even though the JD(U) president may have loved to be remembered solely as the architect of modern Bihar who ensured "development with justice".
The last decade of Kumar's active political life may well be remembered for his numerous flip-flops. His career stands out for one clear reason-the rare combination of repeated oath-taking and repeated resignations.
He has taken oath as Chief Minister of Bihar 10 times, widely seen as a record. At the same time, with his resignation, he has stepped down from the post six times also a record for any politician in India's political history.
This dual record of “10 oaths and 6 resignations” defines Nitish Kumar’s political journey. It reflects not just longevity in power, but also a pattern where stepping down has often been followed by a swift return under a new political arrangement.
Nitish Kumar's 10 Oaths & 6 Resignations
Nitish Kumar first became Chief Minister on March 3, 2000, but that government lasted only a few days. He resigned on March 10, 2000, after failing to prove a majority. However, this early exit did not halt his rise. In November 2005, he returned to power and has since remained a central figure in Bihar politics.
From 2005 onwards, his political journey has followed a clear cycle: resign, realign, and return. This pattern became increasingly evident over the years. In 2010, he took oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the third time.
In 2014, he resigned, taking moral responsibility for his party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections. However, he returned in February 2015, taking oath as Chief Minister for the fourth time after dislodging Jitan Ram Manjhi.
Later in 2015, he took oath again as Chief Minister for the fifth time, this time in alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal after the Assembly elections. In 2017, he resigned after breaking ties with the Mahagathbandhan and returned to power within hours, taking oath for the sixth time with the National Democratic Alliance.
He was sworn in as Chief Minister for the seventh time after the 2020 Assembly elections. In 2022, he again resigned after leaving the NDA and formed a government with opposition parties, taking oath for the eighth time.
In 2024, the same pattern repeated when he quit the Mahagathbandhan and returned to the NDA, taking oath as Chief Minister for the ninth time. He finally took oath for the tenth time after the 2025 Assembly elections.
Each of these resignations and returns was not merely a political compulsion, but also a strategic move. It allowed Nitish Kumar to reset alliances and retain power. That is why his record is not just about numbers, but about a distinct style of politics.
At the same time, another key factor adds a new dimension to this story. Nitish Kumar has never secured a full majority on his party’s strength. His party, Janata Dal (United), has consistently depended on alliance partners to form the government.
Kumar’s famous line, “Nyay ke saath vikas”, tried to project a balance between governance and social justice, even as he remained reliant on the Bharatiya Janata Party at various points to stay in power.
Whether it was with the BJP under the NDA, or alongside the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Indian National Congress in the Mahagathbandhan, alliances have been the backbone of his rule.
Beyond the debate, one conclusion stands out that Nitish Kumar has created a political model where power is sustained not through a single mandate, but by managing alliances and timing decisions carefully.
And as the state faces yet another turning point, one thing is certain: his record of 10 oaths and six resignations isn’t just a statistic. It’s the story of a leader who kept finding his way back to power, no matter how many times he stepped away.