Nitish Kumar

For the Canadian cricketer, see Nitish Kumar (cricketer).
Nitish Kumar
22nd Chief Minister of Bihar
Assumed office
22 February 2015
Deputy Tejashwi Yadav
Preceded by Jitan Ram Manjhi
In office
24 November 2005 – 17 May 2014
Deputy Sushil Modi
Preceded by President's rule
Succeeded by Jitan Ram Manjhi
In office
3 March 2000 – 10 March 2000
Preceded by Rabri Devi
Succeeded by Rabri Devi
Minister of Railways
In office
20 March 2001 – 21 May 2004
Preceded by Mamata Banerjee
Succeeded by Lalu Prasad Yadav
In office
19 March 1998 – 5 August 1999
Preceded by Ram Vilas Paswan
Succeeded by Ram Naik
Minister of Agriculture
In office
27 May 2000 – 21 July 2001
In office
22 November 1999 – 3 March 2000
Minister of Surface Transport
In office
13 October 1999 – 22 November 1999
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
In office
14 April 1998 – 5 August 1999
Personal details
Born (1951-03-01) 1 March 1951
Bakhtiarpur, Bihar, India
Nationality Indian
Political party Janata Dal (United) and Janata Parivar group
Spouse(s) Manju Kumari Sinha
Children Nishant Kumar
Alma mater Bihar College of Engineering (now National Institute of Technology, Patna)
Profession Politician
Engineer
Religion Hinduism
Nickname(s) Sushasan Babu (Mr. Good Governance)[1]
Lord Turnaround[2]

Nitish Kumar (born 1 March 1951) is an Indian politician who has been Chief Minister of Bihar since February 2015. Previously he served as the Chief Minister of Bihar from 2005 to 2014 and served as a minister in the Union Government of India. He belongs to the Janata Dal (United) party. He endeared himself to Biharis, used to low expectations from previous regimes, when as Chief Minister, his socialist policies bore dividends in appointing more than 100,000 school teachers, ensuring that doctors worked in primary health centers, electrification of villages,[3] paving of roads, cutting female illiteracy by half, turning around a lawless state by cracking down on criminals and doubling the income of the average Bihari.[4] The cumulative growth rate of GDP of Bihar during his tenure as CM is highest as compared to other states for that period.

On 17 May 2014 he resigned, owning responsibility for his party's poor performance in the 2014 general elections, and was succeeded by Jitan Ram Manjhi. However, he returned to office in February 2015 after a political crisis[5] and won the state elections of November 2015. He was elected as the national president of his party on 10 April 2016.

Early life

Nitish Kumar was born in Bihar in a Kurmi family to Kabiraj Ram Lakhan Singh and Parmeshwari Devi.[6] His father was a freedom fighter[7] and was close to the great Gandhian Bihar Vibhuti Anugrah Narayan Sinha, one of the founders of modern Bihar. His father, who was also an Ayurvedic Vaidyaraj, left the Indian National Congress to join the Janata Party after it denied him candidature in the 1952 and 1957 general elections.[8]

He got a degree in electrical engineering[9] from Bihar College of Engineering, (now NIT Patna) in 1972.[10][11] He joined the Bihar State Electricity Board, half-heartedly, and later moved into politics.[12]

Political career

Nitish Kumar belongs to a socialist class of politicians. He learnt the lessons of politics under the[13] tutelage of stalwarts Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, S N Sinha, Karpuri Thakur and V. P. Singh.[14]

Nitish Kumar participated in Jayaprakash Narayan's movement[15] between 1974 and 1977, and was close to Satyendra Narayan Sinha, a prominent leader of the time.

Union Minister

Nitish Kumar was briefly, the Union Minister for Railways and Minister for Surface Transport and later, the Minister for Agriculture in 1998–99, in the NDA Government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In August 1999, he resigned following the Gaisal train disaster, taking the responsibility of the disaster as Minister of Railways. However, in his shoty stint as Railway Minister, he brought in widespread reforms[16] such as internet ticket booking facility, opening a record number of railway ticket booking counters and introducing the tatkal scheme for instant booking.

Later that year, he rejoined the Union Cabinet as Minister for Agriculture. From 2001 to May 2004, he was the Union Minister for Railways again. In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, he contested elections from two places, when he got elected from Nalanda but lost from his traditional constituency, Barh.[17]

Nitish Kumar's government also initiated bicycle and meal programs – the government gave bicycles to girls who stayed in school – which saw Bihar getting huge number of girls into schools and fall in school drop out rates.[18]

In 2010, Nitish Kumar's party swept back to power along with its allies (at that time), Bharatiya Janata Party. On 26 November 2010, Nitish Kumar took oath as a Chief Minister of Bihar. This was his second consecutive term as Chief Minister of Bihar. In a keenly fought contest, Nitish Kumar led JDU-BJP combine won with four-fifth majority. NDA won 206 seats while RJD won 22 seats. No party there has won enough seats to represent the opposition in the state assembly, which requires at least 25 seats to become eligible to represent the main opposition party.[19][20] For the first time, electorates witnessed high turnout of women and young voters, while this was declared as the fairest election in Bihar, with no bloodshed or poll violence.[21]

Resignation

On 17 May 2014, he submitted his resignation to the Governor of Bihar - a day after his party fared poorly in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, winning just 2 seats against 20 seats in the previous election. Kumar resigned, taking the moral responsibility of his party's poor performance in the election and Jitan Ram Manjhi took over.[22]

2015 Bihar elections

Nitish Kumar with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Nitish Kumar again assumed office of the Chief Minister on 22 February 2015, on the backdrop of upcoming 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, considered to be his toughest election till date.[23][24] Thus, Nitish Kumar's JD(U) along with RJD and Congress, formed the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) to counter the BJP in Bihar.

Nitish campaigned aggressively during the elections for the Grand Alliance, countering the allegations raised by Narendra Modi and the BJP.[25] Finally, the Grand Alliance won the Assembly election by a huge margin of 178 seats against 58 seats of the BJP and its allies, and RJD emerged as the largest party by winning 80 seats and JD(U) came second, winning 71 seats.[26][27] He was sworn in as Chief Minister on 20 November 2015 for a record fifth time and Lalu Yadav's youngest son Tejashwi Yadav became the fourth Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar.

Personal life

On 22 February 1973, Nitish Kumar married Manju Kumari Sinha, a teacher by profession. They have a son, Nishant, who is a graduate in engineering.[28] Manju Sinha died in 2007 at the age of 53. Nitish's nickname is Munna.[29] [30]

Biographies

Awards and recognition

Positions held

Period Positions Note
1977 Contested first assembly elections on a Janata Party ticket.
1985–89 Member, Bihar Legislative Assembly. First term in Legislative Assembly
1986–87 Member, Committee on Petitions, Bihar Legislative Assembly.
1987–88 President, Yuva Lok Dal, Bihar.
1987–89 Member, Committee on Public Undertakings, Bihar Legislative Assembly.
1989 Secretary-General, Janata Dal, Bihar.
1989 Elected to 9th Lok Sabha. First term in Lok Sabha
1989 - 16 July 1990 Member, House Committee. Resigned
April 1990 - November 1990 Union Minister of State, Agriculture and Co-operation.
1991 Re-elected to 10th Lok Sabha. 2nd term in Lok Sabha
1991–93 General-Secretary, Janata Dal.
Deputy Leader of Janata Dal in Parliament.
17 December 1991 – 10 May 1996 Member, Railway Convention Committee.
8 April 1993 – 10 May 1996 Chairman, Committee on Agriculture.
1996 Re-elected to 11th Lok Sabha.
Member, Committee on Estimates.
Member, General Purposes Committee.
Member, Joint Committee on the Constitution (Eighty-first Amendment Bill, 1996).		 3rd term in Lok Sabha
1996–98 Member, Committee on Defence.
1998 Re-elected to 12th Lok Sabha. 4th term in Lok Sabha
19 March 1998 – 5 August 1999 Union Cabinet Minister, Railways.
14 April 1998 – 5 August 1999 Union Cabinet Minister, Surface Transport (additional charge).
1999 Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha. 5th term in Lok Sabha
13 October 1999 – 22 November 1999 Union Cabinet Minister, Surface Transport.
22 November 1999 – 3 March 2000 Union Cabinet Minister, Agriculture.
3 March 2000 – 10 March 2000 Chief Minister, Bihar. as 29th Chief Minister of Bihar, only for 7 days
27 May 2000 – 20 March 2001 Union Cabinet Minister, Agriculture.
20 March 2001 – 21 July 2001 Union Cabinet Minister, Agriculture with additional charge of Railways.
22 July 2001 – 21 May 2004 Union Cabinet Minister, Railways
2004 Re-elected to 14th Lok Sabha.
Member, Committee on Coal & Steel.
Member, General Purposes Committee.
Member, Committee of Privileges.
Leader Janata Dal (U) Parliamentary Party, Lok Sabha.		 6th term in Lok Sabha
24 November 2005 – 24 November 2010 Chief Minister, Bihar as 31st Chief Minister of Bihar
26 November 2010 – 17 May 2014 Chief Minister, Bihar as 32nd Chief Minister of Bihar
22 February 2015 – 19 November 2015 Chief Minister, Bihar as 34th Chief Minister of Bihar
20 November 2015-till date Chief Minister, Bihar as 35th Chief Minister of Bihar

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Grand comeback for 'Sushasan Babu'". The Statesman. 8 November 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "The Man Who Thrashed Mai-Baap Sarkar". Outlook. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  3. ↑ "Nitish Kumar's development agenda makes waves in Bihar". Lok Sabha Elections 2009. Sify News. 1 May 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  4. ↑ Antholis, William (22 October 2013). "New Players on the World Stage: Chinese Provinces and Indian States". Brookings Institution. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  5. ↑ "Nitish Kumar returns as Bihar CM". ABP News.
  6. ↑ Bihar is run by a peasant Kurmi (Nitish Kumar) Archived 24 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/nitish-kumar-know-the-new-cm-of-bihar/1/519958.html
  8. ↑ "NATIONAL / NEW DELHI : Nitish Kumar entered politics with a 'wound', claims book". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 2012-06-25. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ "New land at Bihta for NIT- DM announces plot for tech institute campus".
  11. ↑ Nitish's brief biography
  12. ↑ "I dream of the old glory days of Bihar". The Times Of India.
  13. ↑ "Hindustan Times Bihar leader-Mr. Nitish Kumar". Hindustan Times Official Online Website. 2015-08-18. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
  14. ↑ "A Politician other Politicians should Emulate!". Polityindia.com. 2011-01-18. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  15. ↑ Famous Indian personalities-Nitish Kumar Nitish, Chief Minister of Bihar
  16. ↑ "Railway budget promises reforms~ says minister | India". Archive.thepeninsulaqatar.com. 2002-02-21. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  17. ↑ "Nitish Kumar voted out of Barh, wins in Nalanda". rediff.com. 2004-05-13. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
  18. ↑ "A triumph in Bihar". The Economist. 25 November 2010.
  19. ↑ Das, Nairita (2010-11-25). "Nitish . Oncreates history in Bihar; grabs 206 seats". News.oneindia.in. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  20. ↑ "Nitish sweeps Bihar polls; Cong crushed, Lalu eclipsed". The Times Of India. 25 November 2010.
  21. ↑ on"A landslide sweep for JD(U)-BJP combine in Bihar : Election Updates, News - India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  22. ↑ "Nitish Kumar resigns as the Chief Minister of Bihar". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  23. ↑ "Frenemies Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav finally reach breakthrough in seat-sharing talks".
  24. ↑ "Why The Upcoming Election In Bihar Is Critical For The State And Beyond".
  25. ↑ Sajjad, Mohammad (8 November 2015). "How Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav won Bihar". rediff.com. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  26. ↑ "Won't contest Bihar polls, will devote time for campaigning, says Nitish Kumar".
  27. ↑ "Won't contest Bihar elections: Nitish Kumar".
  28. ↑ "In Bihar, son rise on a different horizon - cricket, films". Indian Express. 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  29. ↑ "Thousands of people had gathered on the streets since early morning as the news came that 'Munnaji' was coming home." "The town where Nitish is 'Munna'". India News. Rediff News. 25 November 2005. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  30. ↑ Simha, Vijay (3 December 2005). "Constant Gardener's turn in the sun". News. Tehelka. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  31. ↑ When Nitish Kumar cancelled the Modi dinner
  32. ↑ Single Man : The Life And Times Of Nitish Kumar Of Bihar
  33. ↑ Nitish Kumar: Bihar’s renaissance man
  34. ↑ 'Nitish Kumar sees Narendra Modi as a man who imperils inclusive and secular India'
  35. ↑ "Nitish Kumar and the Rise of Bihar by Arun Sinha". Goodreads. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  36. ↑ Ramakrishnan, T. (19 March 2012). "The man who transformed Bihar". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  37. ↑
  38. ↑ "The Man Who Trashed Mai-Baap Sarkar". Outlook (magazine). Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  39. ↑ "Nitish Kumar in Foreign Policy's top 100 global thinkers". indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  40. ↑ Our Bureau. "Business Line : Industry & Economy / Economy : XLRI to fete Nitish Kumar". Thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  41. ↑ "MSN Indian Of The Year: Nitish Kumar". News.in.msn.com. 2010-12-20. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  42. ↑ NDTV Indian of the Year: The winners (2011-02-18). "NDTV Indian of the Year: The winners". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  43. ↑ "A Person of the Year: Nitish Kumar". Forbes. 3 January 2011.
  44. ↑ Nitish Kumar, CNN IBN Indian of the year-2010
  45. ↑ "News " Videos". NDTV. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  46. ↑ "Features". The Times Of India. India. 25 August 2009.
  47. ↑ "Awards galore for Nitish". The Times Of India. India. 24 December 2010.
  48. ↑ Indian Of The Year 2008 -politics winner nitish kumar
  49. ↑ "IBN". Ibnlive.in.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
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Preceded by
President's rule		 Chief Minister of Bihar
24 November 2005 – 17 May 2014 		Succeeded by
Jitan Ram Manjhi
Preceded by
Jitan Ram Manjhi		 Chief Minister of Bihar
22 February 2015 – present 		Succeeded by
incumbent
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