Patna: Bihar’s longest-serving chief minister, Nitish Kumar, on Tuesday resigned from office, ending an extraordinary tenure that spanned more than two decades between March 2000 and April 2026.Nitish Kumar submitted his resignation to Governor Syed Ata Hasnain at Lok Bhavan. He was accompanied by new CM-elect and outgoing deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary, JD(U) national working president Sanjay Jha, and outgoing minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary.His resignation comes as he shifts to national politics after he was elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16, 2026, and took oath as a member of the Upper House of Parliament on April 10, signalling a new phase in his long political journey.In a post on X earlier in the day, Nitish, who took oath as CM 10 times, said he had stepped down after deciding it was time to leave the CM’s post. He also pledged support to the incoming administration and expressed confidence in Bihar’s continued progress.“We have done a lot of work for the people of Bihar. For so many years, we have continuously served the people. I had decided that I would now relinquish the post of chief minister, and therefore, today, after the Cabinet meeting, I met the honourable Governor and submitted my resignation to him,” he wrote in the post, adding: “Now the new government will look after the work here. The new government will have my full support and guidance. Very good work will continue to be done going forward, and Bihar will progress greatly.”Reflecting on the NDA’s years in power since first forming the government in Bihar on November 24, 2005, Nitish said his administration had focused on law and order and inclusive development across communities and sectors.“You know that on 24 November 2005, the NDA government was formed in the state for the first time. Since then, the rule of law has prevailed in the state, and we have been continuously engaged in development work. The government has worked for the development of all sections of society from the very beginning—whether Hindus, Muslims, upper castes, backward classes, extremely backward classes, Dalits, or Mahadalits—work has been done for everyone. Work has been done in every sector, whether in education, health, roads, electricity, or agriculture. A lot of work has also been done for women and youth,” he said.Nitish also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre’s support for Bihar’s recent progress. Referring to the state’s development roadmap, he said, “The ‘Saat Nishchay-3’ has been formulated for the next five years, i.e., from 2025 to 2030. This will result in even more work, which will take Bihar considerably further ahead. The Centre is also extending its full cooperation in Bihar’s development. For this, we pay our respects to the honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji. Bihar will develop even more rapidly and will be counted among the top states of the country.”Known widely as “Sushashan Babu,” or the man of good governance, Nitish Kumar built his political identity around administrative reform and social empowerment. His tenure was marked by initiatives such as the bicycle scheme for girls and 35 percent reservation for women in government jobs. At the same time, his career was also defined by repeated alliance shifts between the NDA and different versions of the Mahagathbandhan.With his entry into the Rajya Sabha, Nitish has now fulfilled his long-held ambition of serving in all four legislative houses: the Bihar Assembly, Bihar Legislative Council, Lok Sabha,
