ThePrint ThePrintPod: Nitish Kumar’s journey from endurance to exhaustion
Nov 5, 2025
Explore the political artistry of Nitish Kumar, who has navigated the tumultuous landscape of Bihar with enduring success. Dive into his strategies for building a welfare-focused coalition, revitalizing bureaucracy, and adapting to shifting alliances. Contrast his understated managerial style with the more flamboyant approaches of other politicians. The discussion delves into the risks of future exhaustion due to age and opposition. Kumar's saga is a compelling study of resilience, reform, and the delicate balance between ideology and administration.
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Longevity Through Institutional Renewal
- Nitish Kumar built political longevity by renewing legitimacy, managing coalitions, and institutionalizing governance.
- He prioritized governance over charisma to transform Bihar's post-Lalu landscape into a stable political order.
Welfare As Political Currency
- Nitish shifted politics from spectacle to a maternal welfare state with targeted women-centered schemes.
- Programs like cash transfers and girls' cycle uniforms created reciprocal trust with first-time beneficiaries.
Statecraft As Political Capital
- Administrative competence became Nitish's political capital through bureaucratic autonomy and program delivery.
- Visible infrastructure and steady welfare delivery consolidated his image as a manager of good governance.