Nitish Kumar’s influence in Bihar politics has declined in 20 years. Nitish, who was the leader of NDA in 2005, is now an equal partner with BJP. The 101-101 seat distribution of 2025 shows that now BJP has a dominant role in the alliance.
Patna: Time has come full circle in the politics of Bihar. The same Nitish Kumar who came to power in 2005 with the identity of Sushasan Babu, is now sitting in the NDA as an equal partner in 2025. In the last two decades, the equations between JDU and BJP have changed such that Nitish was once the face of NDA and now BJP is the backbone of the alliance. The seat sharing formula of 2025 (101-101) is a symbol of this change. Let us understand how the entire mathematics of power in Bihar got reversed in 20 years.
2005: Rise of Nitish and slogan of good governance
In 2005, after the 15-year long rule of Lalu Prasad Yadav in Bihar, the people wanted change. Nitish Kumar became the symbol of that change, BJP was with him, but JDU was on the front foot. At that time JDU contested on 138 seats and BJP on 102 seats. The result wrote history and NDA took power and Nitish became “Good Governance Babu”. Reforms on electricity, roads, education and law and order turned Nitish into one of the most trusted faces of Bihar.
2010: Nitish’s golden period
Nitish Kumar’s influence was at its peak till the 2010 elections. JDU was given 141 seats and BJP 102 seats, meaning Nitish was ‘elder brother’ in power and BJP in a supporting role. In that election, NDA got 206 seats, which was one of the biggest victories ever in Bihar politics. Nitish’s face became synonymous with development, stability and opposition to the “Lalu model”. This partnership was beneficial for BJP, but Nitish was the center of leadership.
2013-2015: When relations broke and Nitish chose a new path
In 2013, Narendra Modi was declared the Prime Ministerial candidate and Nitish Kumar did not accept it. He broke ties with the BJP and said, “We do not believe in politics of individual worship.” In 2015, he ousted BJP from power by forming a grand alliance with RJD and Congress. Even at that time Nitish was the “King”, but this alliance did not last long. In 2017, Nitish reversed course and returned to NDA again. This return was a sign that now Nitish had also understood that it is not easy to survive in Bihar politics on his own.
2020: Rise of BJP, decline of Nitish
The 2020 elections proved to be the biggest shock in the political graph of Nitish Kumar. NDA contested the elections together, but this time BJP staked on 110 seats and JDU on 122 seats. But the results said something else, BJP got 74 seats, while JDU was reduced to only 43. It happened for the first time that BJP’s dominance in NDA was more than Nitish. But due to the support and strategic consent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nitish was made the Chief Minister again. This is where the era of Nitish’s “good governance” ended and the era of BJP’s dominance began.
2025: Equal distribution, but unequal power
In the latest seat sharing, BJP and JDU have been given 101-101 seats. On the surface this appears to be “equality”, but on the ground the equations are different. BJP has organization, resources and leadership of Delhi whereas Nitish has limited cadre and falling support base. This division has made it clear that Nitish is now an “equal partner” in the NDA, but not a decisive one. BJP is now building the election narrative in Bihar on its own and for Nitish this partnership is nothing more than a survival strategy.
Politics of changing Bihar
Bihar saw three phases from 2005 to 2025. First, when Nitish became the symbol of change. Second, when he changed many alliances from opposition to power. Third, when BJP gradually transformed itself from “ally” to “leader”. Now Nitish is “not in the center but in the periphery” of Bihar politics. BJP’s focus is no longer on Nitish, but on the future face and organization expansion.