Nitish Kumar

Nitish Kumar became Chief Minister of Bihar for the first time, but his government lasted only seven days as he failed to prove a majority. This brief tenure highlighted the fractured politics of Bihar at the time. He returned to power later with a stronger mandate.

Nitish Kumar became the leader of the Janata Dal (United) after a merger of the Janata Dal and the Samata Party. The party became his political base in Bihar. He positioned it as a secular, development-oriented alternative to Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD.

Nitish Kumar became Chief Minister after the 2005 election and launched a series of reforms: improving law and order, building roads and bridges, empowering women through panchayat reservations, and expanding education. Bihar's GDP growth rate rose significantly, earning him the 'Bihar turnaround' reputation.

Nitish Kumar broke the JD(U)'s 17-year alliance with the BJP in 2013 over Narendra Modi's prime ministerial candidacy. He later allied with Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD in 2015, then returned to the BJP-led NDA in 2017. These shifts were criticized as opportunistic but kept him in power.

Nitish Kumar's government imposed a complete ban on alcohol in Bihar, citing social harm. The prohibition was strictly enforced, leading to a decline in alcohol-related violence but also creating a black market. The policy was controversial but popular among women voters.