Since India’s independence in 1947, Bihar has seen many Chief Ministers who have played important roles in shaping the state’s progress and politics. Each leader contributed in their own way to the development, administration, and social changes in Bihar. From Sri Krishna Sinha to Nitish Kumar, the state’s leadership journey reflects its rich political history and continuous efforts toward growth.
Overview of Bihar’s Leadership
Since 1947, Bihar has had a total of 23 Chief Ministers, beginning with Shri Krishna Sinha as the first leader of the state. The present Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, has held the position several times across different terms, making him one of the most influential political figures in Bihar’s history.
Current Chief Minister of Bihar
Nitish Kumar is the current Chief Minister of Bihar. He has been in office since 2015 and has also served earlier from 2005 to 2014 and briefly in 2000. Known for his long and stable leadership, he is Bihar’s longest-serving chief minister, currently serving his ninth term in this important role.
List of Chief Ministers of Bihar from 1947 to 2025
Bihar has seen many leaders since independence, each contributing to the state’s growth and development. Here is a complete list of all the chief ministers of Bihar from 1947 to 2025.
| List of Former Chief Ministers of Bihar (1946-2025) | |||
| S. No. | Name | Tenure | Political Party |
| 1. | Sri Krishna Sinha | 2 April 1946 – 31 January 1961 | Indian National Congress |
| 2. | Deep Narayan Singh | 1 Feb 1961 – 18 Feb 1961 | Indian National Congress |
| 3. | Binodanand Jha | 18 Feb 1961 – 2 Oct 1963 | Indian National Congress |
| 4. | K.B. Sahay | 2 Oct 1963 – 5 March 1965 | Indian National Congress |
| 5. | Mahamaya Prasad Sinha | 5 Mar 1963 – 28 Jan 1968 | Jana Kranti Dal |
| 6. | Satish Prasad Singh | 28 Jan 1968 – 1 Feb 1968 | Samyukta Socialist Party |
| 7. | B.P. Madal | 1 Feb 1968 – 22 Mar 1968 | Samyukta Socialist Party |
| 8. | Bhola Paswan Shastri | 22 Mar 1968 – 29 Jun 1968 | Indian National Congress |
| 9. | Harihar Singh | 26 Feb 1969 – 22 Jun 1969 | Indian National Congress |
| 10. | Bhola Paswan Shastri | 22 Jun 1969 – 4 Jul 1969 | Indian National Congress |
| 11. | Daroga Prasad Rai | 16 Feb 1970 – 22 Dec 1970 | Indian National Congress |
| 12. | Karpoori Thakur | 22 Dec 1970 – 2 Jun 1971 | Socialist Party |
| 13. | Bhola Paswan Shastri | 2 Jun 1971 – 9 Jan 1972 | Indian National Congress |
| 14. | Kedar Pandey | 19 Mar 1972 – 2 Jul 1973 | Indian National Congress |
| 15. | Abdul Gafoor | 2 Jul 1973 – 11 Apr 1975 | Indian National Congress |
| 16. | Jagannath Mishra | 11 Apr 1975 – 30 Apr 1977 | Indian National Congress |
| 17. | Karpoori Thakur | 24 Jun 1977 – 21 Apr 1979 | Janata Party |
| 18. | Ram Sundar Das | 21 Apr 1979 – 17 Feb 1980 | Janata Party |
| 19. | Jagannath Mishra | 8 Jun 1980 – 14 Aug 1983 | Indian National Congress |
| 20. | Chandrasekhar Singh | 14 Aug 1983 – 12 Mar 1985 | Indian National Congress |
| 21. | Bindeshwari Dubey | 12 Mar 1985 – 13 Feb 1988 | Indian National Congress |
| 22. | Bhagwat Jha Azad | 14 Feb 1988 – 10 Mar 1989 | Indian National Congress |
| 23. | Satyendra Narayan Sinha | 11 Mar 1989 – 6 Dec 1989 | Indian National Congress |
| 24. | Jagannath Mishra | 6 Dec 1989 – 10 Mar 1990 | Indian National Congress |
| 25. | Lalu Prasad Yadav | 10 Mar 1990 – 28 Mar 1995 | Janata Dal |
| 26. | Lalu Prasad Yadav | 4 Apr 1995 – 25 Jul 1997 | Janata Dal, Rashtriya Janata Dal |
| 27. | Rabri Devi | 25 Jul 1997 – 11 Feb 1999 | Rashtriya Janata Dal |
| 28. | Rabri Devi | 9 Mar 1999 – 2 Mar 2000 | Rashtriya Janata Dal |
| 29. | Nitish Kumar | 3 Mar 2000 – 10 Mar 2000 | Samata Party |
| 30. | Rabri Devi | 11 Mar 2000 – 6 Mar 2005 | Rashtriya Janata Dal |
| 31. | Nitish Kumar | 24 Nov 2005 – 20 May 2014 | Janata Dal (United) |
| 32. | Jita Ram Manjhi | 20 May 2014 – 22 Feb 2015 | Janata Dal (United) |
| 33. | Nitesh Kumar | 22 Feb 2015 – 19 Nov 2015 | Janata Dal (United) |
| 34. | Nitish Kumar | 20 Nov 2015 – 26 July 2017 | Janata Dal (United) |
| 35. | Nitish Kumar | 27 July 2017 – 12 Nov 2020 | Janata Dal (United) |
| 36. | Nitish Kumar | 16 Nov 2020 – 09 Aug 2022 | Janata Dal (United) |
| 37. | Nitish Kumar | 10 Aug 2022 – 28 Jan 2024 | Janata Dal (United) |
| 38. | Nitish Kumar | 28 Jan 2024 – 20 Nov 2025 | Janata Dal (United) |
| 39. | Nitish Kumar | 20 Nov 2025 – Incumbent | Janata Dal (United) |
Interesting Facts About Bihar Chief Ministers
- First Chief Minister: Sri Krishna Sinha became Bihar’s first Chief Minister on August 2, 1947. He is also known for having the longest time in office.
- Current Chief Minister: Nitish Kumar has been serving as the Chief Minister since February 22, 2015, and has held the position multiple times since 2005.
- First Female Chief Minister: Rabri Devi made history as Bihar’s first woman Chief Minister, serving from 1997 to 2005.
- Longest Tenure: Sri Krishna Sinha holds the record for the longest continuous rule as Chief Minister.
- Most Terms: Nitish Kumar has been sworn in as Chief Minister nine times, with his latest term beginning in January 2024.
- Land Reform Leader: Sri Krishna Sinha was the first CM in India to end the zamindari system, helping farmers gain land rights.
- Political Changes: Nitish Kumar has seen many alliance shifts, most recently moving from the RJD-Congress alliance to join the BJP-led NDA.
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