The Rolling Politics of Nitish Kumar and the Wheel-Fitted Chair

In Indian politics, a popular saying often circulates: “There is hardly anyone left whom he has not deceived.” This phrase has become almost synonymous with our politics because here no one can predict when hearts and parties might change. These shifts are rarely driven by ideology; they are driven by the pursuit of power. And the makers of the political ‘chair’ seem to have shown great wisdom by fitting wheels under it. With a little push, one can roll toward another door of opportunity.

If there is one leader on whom this saying fits almost perfectly today, the first name that comes to mind for many observers is Nitish Kumar. Few politicians have used the wheel-fitted chair of power as skillfully as he has. In Bihar’s political landscape, Nitish Kumar is often described as one of the most flexible and pragmatic leaders of coalition politics. But the truth is that in the entire spectrum of Indian politics, it would be difficult to find someone as politically adaptable as Nitish Babu. Over the past three decades, he has changed political alliances several times. Because of this tendency, critics often tease him by calling him “Palturam”—the man who keeps turning.

Now his supporters may argue that for the first time Nitish Kumar himself has been deceived. The reason is that the logic behind his decision to move to the Rajya Sabha does not seem convincing to many people. The very citizens of Bihar who once again entrusted him with the leadership of the state now stand somewhat bewildered, feeling as though they have been taken by surprise.

Nitish Kumar belongs to that rare category of politicians who, since the mid-1980s, have managed to play at least one innings with almost every successful political figure of the era—whether as an ally or as an opponent. To understand Nitish Kumar’s politics, it is essential to recognize that he is not merely an individual leader; he represents one of the most intriguing and complex stories of coalition politics in India.

During his political career, Nitish Kumar has navigated alliances and rivalries with leaders such as Chaudhary Charan Singh, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, George Fernandes, Sharad Yadav, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Narendra Modi, and many others. In different phases of politics, he has displayed remarkable skill in both cooperation and confrontation.

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A Product of the Socialist Movement

The roots of Nitish Kumar’s politics lie in the socialist movement. During the 1960s and 1970s, the ideology of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and later the mass movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan deeply influenced Bihar’s political culture. Nitish Kumar became associated with the socialist stream during his student years, which shaped his early political orientation. Both Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav emerged from the Jayaprakash Narayan movement.

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Entry into Electoral Politics

In the post-Emergency period, when a wave of anti-Congress sentiment swept the country, Nitish Kumar contested his first election in 1977 from the Harnaut Assembly constituency in Nalanda district on a Janata Party ticket, but he lost. In the 1980 Assembly elections, he once again entered the fray from the same constituency, this time representing the Janata Party (Secular) faction, also known as the Lok Dal group. Yet again, victory eluded him.

Finally, in 1985, Nitish Kumar contested his third election from Harnaut, this time on a Lok Dal ticket, and secured his first electoral victory. At that time, Lok Dal was led by Chaudhary Charan Singh. From this point onward, Nitish Kumar began establishing his identity in Bihar’s political landscape.

In 1989, Nitish Kumar chose the Barh Lok Sabha constituency as his gateway to national politics and successfully won his first parliamentary election. In that election he represented the Janata Party, and the political environment across the country was strongly influenced by the wave of support for Vishwanath Pratap Singh.

In 1991, he again won the Lok Sabha seat from the same constituency on a Janata Dal ticket. He went on to win the third, fourth, and fifth elections from this region as well, this time as a candidate of the Samata Party.

In 1999, Nitish Kumar joined the government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and served as Union Minister for Railways, Agriculture, and Surface Transport.

However, in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, he contested once again from the Barh constituency but suffered defeat. Ironically, he was defeated by Vijay Krishna, who had once been his political associate. After this setback, Nitish Kumar shifted his political base permanently to Nalanda.

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The Story of the Samata Party

The early 1990s marked a period of significant transformation in Bihar’s politics. The implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations, debates around social justice, and the emergence of new caste-based political consciousness dramatically reshaped the state’s political landscape. During this period, Lalu Prasad Yadav rose rapidly as a dominant political figure.

At the same time, another political current was emerging that would later reshape Bihar’s political trajectory. This was the formation of the Samata Party.

The Samata Party was established in 1994, and its principal founders were George Fernandes and Nitish Kumar. It was not merely a new political party but a reflection of the search for an alternative leadership in the political environment of that time.

Both Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav had emerged from the Jayaprakash Narayan movement and had grown together within the Janata Dal. When Lalu Prasad Yadav became the Chief Minister of Bihar in 1990, many socialist leaders initially supported him. However, within a few years several leaders began to feel that the administrative system was weakening, allegations of corruption were increasing, democratic dialogue within the party was diminishing, and leadership was becoming centered around a single individual.

Under these circumstances, Nitish Kumar and George Fernandes decided to chart a separate political path. As a result, they broke away from the Janata Dal and founded the Samata Party in 1994.

The party’s main objective was to give socialist politics a new direction, create an alternative to the leadership of Lalu Prasad Yadav, and place governance and development at the center of Bihar’s political discourse. The political base of the Samata Party was primarily composed of leaders associated with socialist traditions in Bihar and a few other states.

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The Influence of George Fernandes

George Fernandes was widely regarded as one of the most prominent socialist leaders in India at that time. He had emerged from the trade union movement and possessed strong national recognition.

Within the Samata Party, Fernandes played the role of providing national credibility, strengthening the organizational structure, and forging strategic alliances with opposition parties. During this phase, Nitish Kumar was seen as the principal face of the party in Bihar.

The Samata Party soon took a strategic step to establish its presence in national politics by forming an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

This alliance later became part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Through this partnership, the Samata Party gained a foothold in national politics, and Nitish Kumar entered the Union government as a minister. The party’s influence steadily increased.

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Emergence of the Janata Dal (United)

During the 1990s, the Janata Dal had been a major national party. Over time, however, it fragmented into several factions. In 2003, a significant political decision was made when the Samata Party merged with certain factions of the Janata Dal.

The new party formed through this merger was named Janata Dal (United). Sharad Yadav became its national president, while Nitish Kumar emerged as the leading figure in Bihar politics and eventually became the most prominent face of the party.

At that time, the political dominance of Lalu Prasad Yadav in Bihar remained strong. The Janata Dal (United) was positioned as a political alternative to his leadership.

Meanwhile, Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government was in power at the national level. The merger of the Samata Party with Janata Dal factions gave the NDA a strong socialist ally.

In 2005, the alliance between JD(U) and the BJP won the Bihar Assembly elections, and Nitish Kumar became the Chief Minister of Bihar for the first time. From that point onward, JD(U) became one of the central forces in Bihar politics, and Nitish Kumar’s political focus shifted largely toward the state.

Nitish Kumar’s politics has historically revolved around electoral battles in the Lok Sabha and the Assembly. However, now he may be compelled to engage in a different kind of politics—one conducted through the corridors of the Rajya Sabha rather than the direct electoral arena. Yet Nitish Kumar is far from an inexperienced player. Rarely has he taken a political decision without careful calculation. Therefore, his decision to move to the Rajya Sabha must be seen in the context of future political shifts that may unfold in Bihar and beyond.