Nitish Kumar just pulled off a surprising move as he took oath as Bihar’s Chief Minister for the tenth time. He’s given up the Home Ministry – a post he’s held for almost two decades straight. Now, it’s in the hands of Samrat Choudhary from the BJP. This isn’t a small shuffle. Home is the powerhouse portfolio in Bihar. Whoever controls it calls the shots on law and order, policing, intelligence, and those all-important transfers.
So, why does this matter for the 10th Time, CM?
For starters, it’s a real power shift toward the BJP. By passing the Home Ministry to his BJP deputy, Nitish is handing over real authority, not just a fancy title. The BJP just moved from being a junior partner to having a serious influence on how things run.
Some political watchers see another angle here. Succession planning. Nitish is in his mid-70s. Slowly, he’s stepping back from the daily grind, and Samrat Choudhary looks like he’s being groomed for a bigger role in the NDA camp. It’s not loud or obvious, but you can see the writing on the wall.
Giving up Home also lets Nitish switch gears.
Instead of wading through the mess of law and order every day, he can keep his eyes on the bigger picture – overseeing policy, development, and governance. Some even say he’d rather focus on his legacy as “sushasan babu,” the man for good governance, than be remembered for iron-fisted policing.
Of course, this changes things for the JDU, too. They still hold important ministries like Finance, but losing Home means they can’t call all the shots anymore. Maybe it’s Nitish acknowledging that younger leaders need to step up. Maybe it’s about showing the JDU isn’t stuck in the past.
What does all this mean for Bihar?
The BJP now has its hands firmly on the steering wheel, not just riding shotgun. This could bring more stability if everyone sticks to their lanes – but let’s be honest, it might also spark turf wars over who really runs the show, especially when it comes to sensitive decisions.
In the long run, Nitish Kumar looks like he’s playing for legacy and continuity—staying Chief Minister, easing in a successor, and making sure the transition doesn’t turn into chaos.
Nitish giving up the Home Ministry isn’t him backing down. It’s a calculated move—balancing power in the NDA, prepping the next generation, and shifting his own focus. It’s bold, and it just might reshape Bihar’s politics for years.
