Nitish Kumar Ranks 8th Among Longest-Serving Chief Ministers in India
Nitish Kumar’s Historic Tenure
Nitish Kumar became the first Chief Minister of Bihar to take oath 10 times. He holds the record for the longest tenure in Bihar's political history. After completing his term in 2030, he is expected to surpass several veteran leaders in India.
Following a massive NDA victory in Bihar, Nitish Kumar once again assumed office as the Chief Minister. He has spent 19 years at the helm of Bihar's government, making him the longest-serving CM in the state’s history.
Top Longest-Serving Chief Ministers in India
Here’s a list of Indian CMs who served longer than Nitish Kumar:
- Pawan Kumar Chamling (Sikkim) – 1994 to 2019, approx. 24 years, 5 oaths, leader of Sikkim Democratic Front.
- Naveen Patnaik (Odisha) – 24 years 99 days, 5 oaths, Biju Janata Dal.
- Jyoti Basu (West Bengal) – 1977 to 2000, approx. 23 years, 5 oaths.
- Gegong Apang (Arunachal Pradesh) – First term 1980–1999, second term 2003–2007, 5 oaths, multiple party changes.
- Lal Thanhawla (Mizoram) – Three terms: 1984–1986, 1989–1998, 2008–2018, total 22 years, Congress Party.
- Virbhadra Singh (Himachal Pradesh) – 21 years.
- Manik Sarkar (Tripura) – Over 19 years.
- Nitish Kumar (Bihar) – 19 years, 9 oaths so far; now taking oath for the 10th time. Expected to enter top 3 longest-serving CMs by 2030 if he continues.
Notable Records
Nitish Kumar is the first CM in Bihar to take oath 10 times. He has maintained political dominance in Bihar for almost two decades and continues to shape the state's governance. By 2030, he could be among the top three longest-serving Chief Ministers in India.