PATNA : It had to come from JDU workers, a line that summed up the Bihar assembly poll verdict and the state’s dominant mood on Friday — “Bihar ka ek hi star, Nitish Kumar (Bihar has one star, Nitish Kumar).”The chorus that rang out on the streets of Patna and beyond was as much triumphal roar as an affectionate salute to a man who had turned an election that was supposed to be loaded against him into a tidal wave of pro-incumbency.Also read | PM Modi hails ‘sushasan ki jeet’; hints at Nitish staying CM
Nitish (74), the man who has become synonymous with “sushasan raj”, is poised for his 10th innings as CM, riding the unflinching support — that came irrespective of scepticism about his health — of loyal constituencies he has built over the years.The results, which saw JDU almost doubling its tally to 85 seats (as of 10.30 pm Friday) from 43 in 2020, also illustrated Nitish’s ability to transfer his votes to whichever coalition he is part of. Despite the series of flip-flops he performed, the message from his constituencies was clear — we go where you go.Also read | Rise & rise of Nitish Kumar: A look at his evolving role in Bihar elections over 40 years — Timeline
There are others who have this ability — Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi, Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav and Chirag Paswan are among them. But what makes Nitish unique is that he pulls it off across the entire bloc of castes that align with him. As many say in Bihar, “ Jiske saath Nitish, wahi rahega bhari (the side that Nitish is on always wins)”.And yet, in the runup to the polls, the CM was seen as a liability. Indifferent health, embarrassing gaffes were seen to add to his anti-incumbency baggage. Potshots at him from the opposition, critics, political watchers and even from voices within NDA seemed to have galvanised Nitish’s base to close ranks behind him.Besides being “sushasan babu”, Nitish is also Mr Clean. His ministers face allegations, but nobody has accused the CM of corruption. Unlike RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad, he also can’t be accused of promoting his son. His governance and policy push to put Bihar back on the rails after the Lalu-Rabri years is widely appreciated. Regular availability of power, which is now virtually free for large sections of society, a network of highways and rural roads, and improved law and order are what have brought him goodwill. Clearly, it’s a lasting one.Also read | Bihar Election Results 2025: Top 10 winners and losersNitish’s own caste, Kurmi, is numerically insignificant. But the fact that it hasn’t been a handicap for him speaks to his political genius in building a coalition of EBCs, non-Yadav OBCs and women. Forward castes have no antipathy for him either. In a state where caste equations run deep, this gives him a unique position.His campaign style is also markedly different — no rabble-rousing, no provocative speeches, no rage-baiting opponents. As has been his hallmark, this election was no different. Nitish spoke with statesman-like restraint, stuck to his core theme of development, garlanded whichever NDA candidate he was canvassing for, and urged people to help them win. While BJP attacked Lalu and Tejashwi with “jungle raj”, Nitish kept it understated. “They did family-centric politics, and did nothing for Bihar, except for their own family,” was how he framed the RJD first family.After Friday’s landslide victory, Nitish posted on X: “I bow to all the esteemed voters of the state and express my heartfelt gratitude and thanks…. The NDA alliance has achieved a massive majority in this election by demonstrating complete unity. For this massive victory, thanks and gratitude are also due to all the partners of the NDA alliance.”Nitish launched his formal campaign on Oct 21 at Minapur in Muzaffarpur. Till Nov 9, he had addressed 184 public meetings. On Oct 29, travelling by road, he covered all seven assembly constituencies in his home district Nalanda, showing his commitment and helping counter the opposition claim that he wasn’t in good health and could not lead the state any longer.
