Nitish Kumar exits as Bihar Chief Minister, marks end of an era

The resignation of Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister of Bihar on Tuesday (April 14, 2026) marks the end of an era in the State’s politics, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) now set to lead the government with its own Chief Minister for the first time in the State. Mr. Kumar had served as Chief Minister for over two decades, taking oath for a record tenth term on November 20, 2025, and concluding it on April 14, 2026, the day marking the end of the inauspicious Kharmas month.

With several political flip-flops to remain in the post of Chief Minister, Mr. Kumar navigated the complex socio-political terrain of Bihar while focusing on improving law and order and promoting governance initiatives aimed at inclusivity and development. However, critics claim that Mr. Kumar delivered only the “obvious developments” in the State, while the per capita income of the common people remained close to one-third of the national average throughout much of his tenure. Barring his first term in office between 2005 and 2010, when he earned the nickname sushashan babu (Mr. good governance), critics say Mr. Kumar’s administration depended heavily on a chosen set of politicians and bureaucrats, which, according to them, cost the State its “actual, not the obvious development”.