How has Nitish Kumar influenced Bihar’s politics and development?

Nitish Kumar, Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister, has profoundly influenced the state's politics and development since he first took office in 2005.

Influence on Development ("Sushasan" - Good Governance)

1. Restoration of Law and Order: His first and most significant impact was the crackdown on organized crime. This move is widely credited with ending the era known as "Jungle Raj" and restoring a sense of public safety, which was a prerequisite for all other development.
2. Infrastructure Revolution: Kumar's government focused heavily on basic infrastructure under the banner of "Bijli, Sadak, Paani" (Electricity, Roads, Water). This included:
   • Connecting virtually all villages with all-weather roads.
   • Massively improving the availability of electricity, from a few hours a day to near-universal, 24/7 supply.
3. Social Engineering & Empowerment:
   • Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana (Bicycle Scheme): This flagship scheme, providing money for schoolgirls to buy bicycles, dramatically increased female enrollment in secondary schools and became a symbol of social empowerment.
   • Panchayati Raj Reservation: He implemented 50% reservation for women in Bihar's Panchayati Raj institutions, bringing millions of women into local governance for the first time.
   • Prohibition (Sharab Bandi): In 2016, he implemented a controversial but politically popular state-wide ban on alcohol, a move aimed at addressing domestic violence and improving household savings.

Influence on Politics

1. Shifting the Narrative: He successfully shifted the political discourse from caste-based identity politics to "Vikas" (Development) and "Sushasan" (Good Governance).
2. Forging New Social Coalitions: He broke traditional caste allegiances by creating a consolidated vote bank of Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) and "Mahadalits" (the most deprived Scheduled Castes), in addition to his core Kurmi caste and a section of women voters (who are seen as a "caste-neutral" constituency).
3. The "Fulcrum" of Bihar Politics: Nitish Kumar has mastered the art of political alliances. By strategically aligning with both the BJP (NDA) and the RJD (Mahagathbandhan) at different times, he has made himself the indispensable "fulcrum" around which Bihar's politics has revolved for nearly two decades.