Why Bihar’s Longest-Serving CM Nitish Kumar Never Contests Assembly Elections

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Why Bihar’s Longest-Serving CM Nitish Kumar Never Contests Assembly Elections

Analysis

1. Background
   Nitish Kumar, the longest-serving Chief Minister of Bihar, has built a unique political career by largely staying away from direct Assembly elections. Despite being a central figure in Bihar politics for over two decades, he has preferred entering the state legislature through the Legislative Council route (MLC) rather than contesting Assembly elections (MLA).
2. Political Timeline and Electoral Journey
   • Nitish Kumar last contested a Bihar Assembly election in 1995 from Harnaut, though he later chose to retain his position as a Lok Sabha MP.
   • Before that, he had contested three consecutive Assembly elections (1977, 1980, and 1985), winning only once in 1985.
   • His political focus then shifted to the national stage, where he won six Lok Sabha elections (1989, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2004).
   • His final electoral contest was in 2004, when he won from Nalanda after losing his traditional seat, Barh.
3. Preference for Legislative Council (MLC) Route
   • Nitish Kumar first assumed the CM post in 2000 without being a member of either House but resigned within eight days.
   • In 2005, he again became CM and subsequently entered the Legislative Council, a practice he has maintained since.
   • Bihar, being one of only six Indian states with a Legislative Council, allows such flexibility.
   • His MLC terms have been continuous:
     • First term (2005–2012)
     • Second term (2012–2018)
     • Third term (2018–2024)
     • Re-elected in March 2024, his current tenure extends till May 2030.
4. Reasons Behind Avoiding Assembly Contests
   • Nitish Kumar has publicly stated that becoming an MLC is a matter of choice, not compulsion.
   • During the Legislative Council centenary celebrations (2012), he called the Upper House a “respectable institution.”
   • Ahead of the 2015 Assembly polls, he clarified that not contesting allows him to “focus on the entire state rather than one constituency.”
   • This also provides political flexibility and helps avoid direct local-level anti-incumbency.
5. Political Stability and Leadership Continuity
   • Nitish Kumar’s choice of the MLC route has not hindered his authority; rather, it has offered him stability and continuity in governance since 2005, barring a brief nine-month gap (2014–15).
   • Even after resigning post the 2014 Lok Sabha elections due to BJP’s victory, he returned to power in 2015, later rejoining the NDA alliance in 2017.
6. Upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections 2025
   • The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections are scheduled for two phases — November 6 and 11, with vote counting on November 14, 2025.
   • Nitish Kumar is once again contesting indirectly via the Legislative Council route, reaffirming his political strategy of leading without contesting assembly polls directly.

Static / Conceptual Linkage (Polity Section)

• Article 168–212 of the Constitution – Deal with the State Legislature structure.
• Legislative Council (Upper House) exists in 6 Indian states: Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh.
• Article 171(3) – Composition of the Legislative Council (MLCs elected by MLAs, graduates, teachers, and local authorities, plus gubernatorial nominees).
• Article 164(4) – A minister, including the Chief Minister, can hold office for six months without being a member of either House, provided he/she gets elected within that period.
• Significance: The Legislative Council system allows seasoned leaders like Nitish Kumar to focus on governance and long-term political strategies rather than constituency-level campaigning.

Updated – 29 Oct 2025 ; 11:21 AM | News Source: Times Now News