List of Chief Ministers of Bihar (1947-2026): Tenure, Parties and Key Facts

List of Chief Ministers of Bihar (1947 to 2026): Tenure, Parties and Key Facts

Explore the complete list of Chief Ministers of Bihar from 1946 to present, including their tenure, political parties, key facts, and major political phases in the state.

Table of Contents

There have been 24 Chief Ministers of Bihar since 1946. The Chief Ministers of Bihar are the elected heads of the state government responsible for administration and governance. Since 1946, Bihar has witnessed multiple political phases, from Congress dominance to coalition politics. Nitish Kumar being the longest-serving Chief Minister. while Sri Krishna Sinha was the first CM, Satish Prasad Singh had the shortest tenure.

In this article, you will find the complete list of Chief Ministers of Bihar from 1946 to 2026, along with the latest update on Bihar’s new Chief Minister, tenure details, and key political developments.

Bihar New Chief Minister (2026): Latest Update

End of Nitish Kumar’s long tenure as CM
Bharatiya Janata Party gains stronger control in Bihar
Samrat Choudhary becomes the 24th Chief Minister of Bihar
Expected focus on governance, development, and “double engine” model

Bihar’s political landscape has witnessed a major shift in April 2026, marking the end of an era led by Nitish Kumar. After serving as the longest-serving Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar resigned following his final cabinet meeting, paving the way for a new leadership transition.

In a historic development, senior BJP leader Samrat Choudhary has been chosen as the new Chief Minister of Bihar and sworn in as the 24th CM of the state. This marks the first time that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has its own Chief Minister in Bihar, signaling a major political shift in the state.

The leadership change comes after BJP emerged as a dominant force in the state assembly, with Samrat Choudhary elected as the leader of the legislative party and the NDA alliance.

Important Facts about Chief Ministers of Bihar

First Chief Minister: Sri Krishna Sinha (1946–1961)
First Woman Chief Minister: Rabri Devi
Current Chief Minister (2026): Samrat Choudhary (2026–Present; BJP)
Longest-serving CM: Nitish Kumar
Shortest-serving CM: Satish Prasad Singh (5 days)
Total Chief Ministers in Bihar: 24
President’s Rule: Multiple times (8 times)

Note: As of early April 2026, Nitish Kumar was the incumbent Chief Minister of Bihar, having taken oath for his tenth term on November 20, 2025. However, he expected to step down in late April 2026 to join the Rajya Sabha, with a new leader set to be announced.

List of Chief Ministers of Bihar from 1947 to 2026

Below is the complete list of Bihar Chief Ministers along with their tenures and political affiliations:

Bihar has seen high political instability compared to other states
Coalition politics plays a major role
Leadership patterns shifted from ideology → caste → development

S. No.	Name	Tenure	Political Party	Duration
1	Sri Krishna Sinha	2 April 1946 – 31 January 1961	Indian National Congress	~15 years
2	Deep Narayan Singh	1 Feb 1961 – 18 Feb 1961	Indian National Congress	Short term
3	Binodanand Jha	18 Feb 1961 – 2 Oct 1963	Indian National Congress	~1 year
4	K.B. Sahay	2 Oct 1963 – 5 March 1965	Indian National Congress	~4 years
5	Mahamaya Prasad Sinha	5 Mar 1967 – 28 Jan 1968	Jana Kranti Dal
6	Satish Prasad Singh	28 Jan 1968 – 1 Feb 1968	Samyukta Socialist Party
7	B.P. Mandal	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	~7 years
26	Lalu Prasad Yadav	4 Apr 1995 – 25 Jul 1997	Janata Dal → Rashtriya Janata Dal	~7 years
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	Jitan Ram Manjhi	20 May 2014 – 22 Feb 2015	Janata Dal (United)
33	Nitish Kumar	22 Feb 2015 – Apr 2026	Janata Dal (United)
34	Samrat Choudhary	!5 Apr 2026-Present	BJP

Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister of Bihar with Tenure

S. No.	Term	Tenure Period	Remarks
1	First Term	March 2000 – March 2000	Very short tenure (about 7 days)
2	Second Term	Nov 2005 – May 2014	Full stable government (NDA)
3	Third Term	Feb 2015 – July 2017	Alliance with RJD & Congress (Mahagathbandhan)
4	Fourth Term	July 2017 – Aug 2022	Rejoined NDA with BJP
5	Fifth Term	Aug 2022 – April 2026	Mahagathbandhan government

First Chief Minister of Bihar

The first Chief Minister of Bihar was Sri Krishna Sinha, who served from 1946 to 1961. Popularly known as “Bihar Kesari,” he was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and played a crucial role in social reforms, industrial development, and education. His long tenure made him one of the most influential leaders in Bihar’s history.

Current Chief Minister of Bihar

The current Chief Minister is Nitish Kumar, who has been in office since 2015 (after briefly serving earlier in 2000 and 2005–2014). Known for his focus on infrastructure, education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment, Nitish Kumar has transformed Bihar’s connectivity through bridges and road networks.

Longest Serving Chief Minister of Bihar

Nitish Kumar holds the record as the longest-serving Chief Minister of Bihar, serving cumulatively for over 18 years. His leadership is often credited with bringing stability, development, and progressive reforms to the state.

Shortest Serving Chief Minister of Bihar

The shortest tenure was held by Satish Prasad Singh, who served for just 5 days (28 January – 1 February 1968). His government collapsed quickly due to a lack of majority support, marking a brief chapter in Bihar’s volatile political history.

Political Phase in Bihar

Congress Era (1946–1967)

Dominated by the Indian National Congress
Stable leadership under Sri Krishna Sinha
Post-independence development

Instability Phase (1967–1990)

Frequent government changes
Rise of socialist leaders
Coalition governments

Mandal Era (1990–2005)

Rise of backward caste politics
Leadership of Lalu Prasad Yadav
Social justice focus

Development and Coalition Era (2005–Present)

Dominance of Nitish Kumar
Coalition politics
Focus on governance, infrastructure, and reforms

Conclusion

The list of Chief Ministers of Bihar (1946–2026) reflects the state’s evolving political journey—from Congress dominance to coalition governments and now a new leadership phase under Samrat Choudhary. Staying updated with such developments is crucial for both competitive exams and general awareness.

Chief Ministers of Bihar FAQs

Who was the first CM of Bihar?

Sri Krishna Sinha was the first Chief Minister of Bihar. His tenure was from Apr 2, 1946 to 31 Jan 1961

Who is the first lady Chief Minister of Bihar?

The first woman (lady) Chief Minister of Bihar was Rabri Devi. She served as Chief Minister from 1997 to 2005 (in multiple terms) and was a significant political figure during the period of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s leadership.

Who is the current Chief Minister of Bihar in 2026?

Samrat Choudhary is the current Chief Minister of Bihar (as of 2026).

Which party is ruling in Bihar?

JDU, with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Who is the longest-serving CM?

Nitish Kumar holds the record for the longest tenure.

Who was known as Bihar Kesari?

Sri Krishna Sinha was popularly known as “Bihar Kesari.” He was the first Chief Minister of Bihar and played a major role in India’s freedom movement as well as in shaping modern Bihar after independence.