Nitish Kumar Enters India’s Top 10 Longest-Serving Chief Ministers List
Nitish Kumar has done it again. On Thursday, the 74-year-old leader took oath as Bihar’s Chief Minister for an unprecedented 10th time, a feat unmatched by any other CM in the country. With this, he not only extended his nearly 19-year rule but also officially entered India’s top-10 list of longest-serving Chief Ministers .
The grand swearing-in ceremony at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan was packed with political heavyweights, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and several top NDA leaders, a clear signal of the national importance attached to Bihar’s political moment.
In a career marked by frequent realignments, Kumar earned the nickname ‘Paltu Ram’. Yet, for many in Bihar, he remains ‘Sushashan Babu’, the leader credited with bringing governance reforms and stability.
Here’s where he stands among India’s longest-serving Chief Ministers:
1. Sikkim - Pawan Kumar Chamling (25+ years)
Dec 12, 1994 - May 26, 2019
2. Odisha - Naveen Patnaik (24+ years)
Mar 5, 2000 - Jun 11, 2024
3. West Bengal - Jyoti Basu (23+ years)
Jun 21, 1977 - Nov 5, 2000
4. Arunachal Pradesh - Gegong Apang (22+ years)
Jan 18, 1980 - Jan 19, 1999; Aug 3, 2003 - Apr 9, 2007
5. Mizoram - Lal Thanhawla (22+ years)
May 5, 1984 - Aug 21, 1986; Jan 24, 1989 - Dec 3, 1998; Dec 11, 2008 - Dec 15, 2018
6. Himachal Pradesh - Virbhadra Singh (21+ years)
Apr 8, 1983 - Mar 5, 1990; Dec 3, 1993 - Mar 24, 1998; Mar 6, 2003 - Dec 30, 2007; Dec 25, 2012 - Dec 27, 2017
7. Tripura - Manik Sarkar (19+ years)
Mar 11, 1998 - Mar 9, 2018
8. Bihar - Nitish Kumar (About 19 years)
Mar 3, 2000 - Mar 11, 2000; Nov 24, 2005 - May 20, 2014; Feb 22, 2015 - Nov 19, 2025
9. Tamil Nadu - M. Karunanidhi (18+ years)
Feb 10, 1969 - Jan 31, 1976; Jan 27, 1989 - Jan 30, 1991; May 13, 1996 - May 14, 2001; May 13, 2006 - May 16, 2011
10. Punjab - Parkash Singh Badal (18+ years)
Mar 27, 1970 - Jun 14, 1971; Jun 20, 1977 - Feb 17, 1980; Feb- 12, 1997 - February 26, 2002; March 1, 2007 - March 16, 2017
As Bihar watches its most seasoned leader return to the helm, the nation sees Nitish Kumar’s name etched even deeper into India’s political timeline. Whether you call him a master strategist or a symbol of continuity, one thing is undeniable, Nitish Kumar’s political story is far from over.
The grand swearing-in ceremony at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan was packed with political heavyweights, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and several top NDA leaders, a clear signal of the national importance attached to Bihar’s political moment.
A Political Journey Stretching Five Decades
Born in 1951 in Bakhtiyarpur, Nitish Kumar’s political spark ignited during the JP Movement. He joined the Janata Party and contested his first assembly election in 1977 unsuccessfully. His first win came in 1985, and from there, he slowly built the reputation that has carried him through countless twists and turns.In a career marked by frequent realignments, Kumar earned the nickname ‘Paltu Ram’. Yet, for many in Bihar, he remains ‘Sushashan Babu’, the leader credited with bringing governance reforms and stability.
Now Among India’s Longest-Serving CMs
With this latest term, Nitish Kumar joins a prestigious club dominated by political giants like Pawan Kumar Chamling and Naveen Patnaik, who redefined long-term governance in their states.Here’s where he stands among India’s longest-serving Chief Ministers:
1. Sikkim - Pawan Kumar Chamling (25+ years)
Dec 12, 1994 - May 26, 2019
2. Odisha - Naveen Patnaik (24+ years)
Mar 5, 2000 - Jun 11, 2024
3. West Bengal - Jyoti Basu (23+ years)
Jun 21, 1977 - Nov 5, 2000
4. Arunachal Pradesh - Gegong Apang (22+ years)
Jan 18, 1980 - Jan 19, 1999; Aug 3, 2003 - Apr 9, 2007
5. Mizoram - Lal Thanhawla (22+ years)
May 5, 1984 - Aug 21, 1986; Jan 24, 1989 - Dec 3, 1998; Dec 11, 2008 - Dec 15, 2018
6. Himachal Pradesh - Virbhadra Singh (21+ years)
Apr 8, 1983 - Mar 5, 1990; Dec 3, 1993 - Mar 24, 1998; Mar 6, 2003 - Dec 30, 2007; Dec 25, 2012 - Dec 27, 2017
Mar 11, 1998 - Mar 9, 2018
8. Bihar - Nitish Kumar (About 19 years)
Mar 3, 2000 - Mar 11, 2000; Nov 24, 2005 - May 20, 2014; Feb 22, 2015 - Nov 19, 2025
9. Tamil Nadu - M. Karunanidhi (18+ years)
Feb 10, 1969 - Jan 31, 1976; Jan 27, 1989 - Jan 30, 1991; May 13, 1996 - May 14, 2001; May 13, 2006 - May 16, 2011
10. Punjab - Parkash Singh Badal (18+ years)
Mar 27, 1970 - Jun 14, 1971; Jun 20, 1977 - Feb 17, 1980; Feb- 12, 1997 - February 26, 2002; March 1, 2007 - March 16, 2017
As Bihar watches its most seasoned leader return to the helm, the nation sees Nitish Kumar’s name etched even deeper into India’s political timeline. Whether you call him a master strategist or a symbol of continuity, one thing is undeniable, Nitish Kumar’s political story is far from over.
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