The political longevity enjoyed by both Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar is not something the incoming Chief Minister of Bihar will inherit. File | Photo credit: The Hindu
“The end of an era” is a cliché deployed ad nauseam for the political transformation that Bihar will witness as it waits for a new Chief Minister. However, there are several prisms through which this change can be evaluated.
The most significant of these is the shift in the command center. Thirty-six years after Lalu Prasad Yadav took office in 1990 and disrupted what had largely been the Congress continuum, the chief minister’s seat is returning to the national party. Delhi, not Patna, will be calling now. Whoever is chosen for the chief minister’s seat will no longer be the final arbiter. He, or perhaps she, will have to keep an eye on the leadership in Delhi. The political longevity enjoyed by both Lalu and Nitish Kumar is not something the incoming chief minister will inherit. They will have to watch their flanks and watch out for other aspirants waiting to slip up.
An impressive legacy
In his campaign speeches, Nitish Kumar often spoke of “Bihar kya tha” (what Bihar once was) and referred to the state’s alleged dark past. This ‘Jungle Raj’ specter can no longer be deployed. In the post-Nite era, his successor’s tenure will no longer be contrasted with the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) government; instead, he will be judged under the 20-year Nitish Kumar rule. Since Nitish Kumar has long been hailed as a sushasan babu (man of governance), it will be difficult to maintain or overcome this narrative.
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If Lalu Prasad Yadav addressed caste injustices and restored dignity to marginalized communities, Nitish Kumar formulated a Bihar asmita (identity) policy that sought to restore state pride among Biharis within and outside its borders. The new chief minister will have to shift into third gear and address Bihar’s most pressing issue: migration.
It is no longer enough that the lower castes have found a voice or that the state has gained some measure of dignity through infrastructural development. The new Chief Minister must ensure that even those who are born in Bihar have the opportunity to live and work there without having to go away in search of livelihood. According to the 2011 census, nine million people born in Bihar are working outside the state, a number that is expected to rise according to the latest census.
Moreover, a precarious caste and communal balance was maintained between the Lalu and Nitish governments. The RJD has often been derisively dismissed by its opponents as a Muslim-Yadav party. It is often overlooked that the Muslims and the Yadavas were not natural allies. In fact, in several infamous riots in Bihar, including the Bhagalpur riots, the two communities were on opposite sides. This alliance was forged by Lalu Prasad through a combination of reach and the promise of a meaningful share in governance.
While Nith’s Kumar led Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) did not consistently secure Muslim electoral support, the community did not feel threatened under his rule. Communal peace is generally maintained in Bihar.
Maintaining this balance will be a challenge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government.
Challenges and hopes
With the BJP at the helm, social anxieties over reservations could resurface. Some signs are already visible. On March 18, more than 1,000 students from various organizations took to the streets demanding the immediate implementation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Equity Rules, which were stayed by the Supreme Court. It is up to the BJP to pick a chief minister who can offer a reassuring counter-narrative.
There are also many options in post-Nithi Bihar. Between the front-caste-dominated BJP and the Yadav-dominated RJD, there are many smaller caste groups that lack a natural political home. In the absence of Nitish Kumar, the JD(U) may not provide a stable base for these communities. This creates an opportunity for Congress to fill the vacuum. However, it can prove a viable alternative only if it emerges from the shadow of the RJD and functions as an independent force rather than an affiliated party.
On March 30, Nitish Kumar resigned from the Bihar Legislative Council. He is scheduled to take oath in the Rajya Sabha by April 10. Contrary to expectations, there have been no protests in the JD(U) and the transition seems smooth so far.
But the real test of whether this stability will last is just beginning.
Published – 02 Apr 2026 01:02 IST
