# List of chief ministers of Bihar

The chief minister of Bihar serves as the head of the Government of Bihar, overseeing its administration and governance within the constitutional framework of India. While the Governor of Bihar holds the ceremonial role of the constitutional head, real executive authority rests with the chief minister, who is responsible for implementing policies and managing the state’s day-to-day affairs. Appointed by the Governor following elections to the Bihar Legislative Assembly, the chief minister is typically the leader of the majority party or coalition in the assembly. Upon taking office, they form a council of ministers, assigning portfolios to manage various government departments. This council operates collectively under the chief minister’s leadership and remains accountable to the legislative assembly. Responsibilities of the office include leading cabinet meetings, drafting and implementing state policies, and presenting the annual budget. In addition to maintaining law and order, the chief minister directs efforts toward economic development, public welfare, and infrastructure improvement. Coordination with the Government of India and advocacy for Bihar’s interests at the national level are also integral parts of the role.
Policy proposals and legislative initiatives are often introduced under the chief minister’s guidance, shaping the government’s agenda in the assembly. Administrative oversight is another key function, ensuring government departments and officials deliver public services efficiently and in line with policy objectives. The position carries a five-year term, concurrent with the tenure of the legislative assembly. However, tenure depends on retaining the confidence of the assembly, as the chief minister can be removed through a vote of no confidence. There are no term limits, allowing for multiple consecutive or non-consecutive terms. Since its establishment in 1946, the office has grown in influence, reflecting shifts in state politics and governance. The role has become central to Bihar’s administration, with successive holders contributing to the state’s legislative, economic, and social development efforts.
From 1946, 23 people have been chief minister of Bihar. The current incumbent is Nitish Kumar who is having incumbency since 22 February 2015. The longest incumbent chief minister of Bihar held to Nitish Kumar.

## Prime ministers from Bihar

Before independence, Bihar was part of the larger Bihar and Orissa province, which was divided into two separate provinces on 1 April 1936. The Government of India Act 1935 introduced a bicameral legislature in Bihar, with a Legislative Assembly and a Legislatory Council, headed by the Premier. Shri Krishna Sinha became the first Premier in 1937, leading a government formed by the Indian National Congress. He continued as Bihar’s leader after independence, becoming the first chief minister in 1946. The role of premier was replaced by the chief minister after India's independence in 1947, with Bihar’s political leadership transitioning to a new democratic framework.
| No. | Portrait | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Party |
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Tenure | Party |
| 1 | | Mohammad Yunus | 1 April 1937 | 19 July 1937 | 109 days | Muslim Independent Party |
| 2 | | Shri Krishna Sinha | 20 July 1937 | 31 October 1939 | 2 years, 103 days | Indian National Congress |
| (2) | | Shri Krishna Sinha | 23 March 1946 | 14 August 1947 | 1 year, 144 days | Indian National Congress |

## Chief ministers of Bihar
### Key

Colour key for political parties
* No.: Incumbent number
* $^§$ Assassinated or died in office
* $^{RES}$ Resigned
* $^{NC}$ Resigned following a no-confidence motion
| # | Chief Minister (Lifespan) Constituency | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Election (Term) | Party | Deputy Chief Minister(s) (Term in office) | Government | Appointed by (Governor) |
| 1 | Shri Krishna Sinha (1887–1961) Member, Interim Assembly (until 1952) MLA for Basantpur (1952–1957) MLA Sheikhpura (from 1957) | 15 August 1947 | 31 January 1961 | 13 years, 169 days | 1946 (Interim) | Indian National Congress | Anugrah Narayan Sinha (26 Jan. 1950 – 5 Jul. 1957) Position vacant (5 Jul. 1957 – 31 Jan. 1961) | Shri Krishna I | Jairamdas Daulatram |
| 1 | Shri Krishna Sinha (1887–1961) Member, Interim Assembly (until 1952) MLA for Basantpur (1952–1957) MLA Sheikhpura (from 1957) | 15 August 1947 | 31 January 1961 | 13 years, 169 days | 1952 (1st) | Indian National Congress | Anugrah Narayan Sinha (26 Jan. 1950 – 5 Jul. 1957) Position vacant (5 Jul. 1957 – 31 Jan. 1961) | Shri Krishna II | Madhav Shrihari Aney |
| 1 | Shri Krishna Sinha (1887–1961) Member, Interim Assembly (until 1952) MLA for Basantpur (1952–1957) MLA Sheikhpura (from 1957) | 15 August 1947 | 31 January 1961 | 13 years, 169 days | 1957 (3rd) | Indian National Congress | Anugrah Narayan Sinha (26 Jan. 1950 – 5 Jul. 1957) Position vacant (5 Jul. 1957 – 31 Jan. 1961) | Shri Krishna III | R. R. Diwakar |
| 2 | Deep Narayan Singh (1894–1977) MLA for Hajipur | 1 February 1961 | 18 February 1961 | 17 days | 1957 (3rd) | Indian National Congress | Position vacant (31 Jan. 1961 – 5 Mar. 1967) | Deep Narayan | Zakir Husain |
| 3 | Binodanand Jha (1900–1971) MLA for Rajmahal | 18 February 1961 | 2 October 1963 | 2 years, 226 days | 1957 (3rd) | Indian National Congress | Position vacant (31 Jan. 1961 – 5 Mar. 1967) | Jha I | Zakir Husain |
| 3 | Binodanand Jha (1900–1971) MLA for Rajmahal | 18 February 1961 | 2 October 1963 | 2 years, 226 days | 1962 (3rd) | Indian National Congress | Position vacant (31 Jan. 1961 – 5 Mar. 1967) | Jha II | Zakir Husain |
| 4 | Krishna Ballabh Sahay (1898–1974) MLA for Patna West | 2 October 1963 | 5 March 1967 | 3 years, 154 days | 1962 (3rd) | Indian National Congress | Position vacant (31 Jan. 1961 – 5 Mar. 1967) | Sahay | M. A. Ayyangar |
| 5 | Mahamaya Prasad Sinha (1909–1987) MLA for Patna West | 5 March 1967 | 28 January 1968 | 329 days | 1967 (4th) | Jana Kranti Dal | Karpoori Thakur (5 Mar. 1967 – 28 Jan. 1968) | Mahamaya | M. A. Ayyangar |
| 6 | Satish Prasad Singh (1936–2020) MLA for Parbatta | 28 January 1968 | 1 February 1968 | 4 days | 1967 (4th) | Shoshit Dal | Jagdeo Prasad (28 Jan. 1968 – 1 Feb. 1968) | Satish Prasad | Nityanand Kanungo |
| 7 | B. P. Mandal (1918–1982) MLC | 1 February 1968 | 22 March 1968 | 50 days | 1967 (4th) | Shoshit Dal | Position vacant (1 Feb. 1968 – 29 Jun. 1968) | Mandal | Nityanand Kanungo |
| 8 | Bhola Paswan Shastri (1914–1984) MLA for Korha | 22 March 1968 | 29 June 1968 | 99 days | 1967 (4th) | Indian National Congress | Position vacant (1 Feb. 1968 – 29 Jun. 1968) | Shastri I | Nityanand Kanungo |
| President's rule was imposed in during the period (29 June 1968 – 26 February 1969) ||||||||||||
| 9 | Harihar Singh (1925–1994) MLA for Nayagram | 26 February 1969 | 22 June 1969 | 116 days | 1969 (5th) | Indian National Congress | Position vacant (26 Feb. 1969 – 4 Jul. 1969) | Harihar | Nityanand Kanungo |
| (8) | Bhola Paswan Shastri (1914–1984) MLA for Korha | 22 June 1969 | 4 July 1969 | 12 days | 1969 (5th) | Indian National Congress (O) | Position vacant (26 Feb. 1969 – 4 Jul. 1969) | Shastri II | Nityanand Kanungo |
| President's rule was imposed in during the period (6 July 1969 – 16 February 1970) ||||||||||||
| 10 | Daroga Prasad Rai (1922–1981) MLA for Parsa | 16 February 1970 | 22 December 1970 | 309 days | – (5th) | Indian National Congress (R) | Position vacant (16 Feb. 1970 – 2 Jun. 1971) | Rai | Nityanand Kanungo |
| 11 | Karpoori Thakur (1924–1988) MLA for Samastipur | 22 December 1970 | 2 June 1971 | 162 days | – (5th) | Socialist Party | Position vacant (16 Feb. 1970 – 2 Jun. 1971) | Thakur I | Nityanand Kanungo |
| (8) | Bhola Paswan Shastri (1914–1984) MLA for Korha | 2 June 1971 | 9 January 1972 | 221 days | – (5th) | Indian National Congress (R) | Ram Jaipal Singh Yadav (2 Jun. 1971 – 9 Jan. 1972) | Shastri III | D. K. Barooah |
| President's rule was imposed in during the period (9 January – 19 March 1972) ||||||||||||
| 12 | Kedar Pandey (1920–1982) MLA for Nautan | 19 March 1972 | 2 July 1973 | 1 year, 105 days | 1972 (6th) | Indian National Congress (R) | Position vacant (19 Mar. 1972 – 30 Apr. 1977) | Pandey | D. K. Barooah |
| 13 | Abdul Ghafoor (1918–2004) MLC | 2 July 1973 | 11 April 1975 | 1 year, 283 days | 1972 (6th) | Indian National Congress (R) | Position vacant (19 Mar. 1972 – 30 Apr. 1977) | Ghafoor | R. D. Bhandare |
| 14 | Jagannath Mishra (1937–2019) MLA for Jhanjharpur | 11 April 1975 | 30 April 1977 | 2 years, 19 days | 1972 (6th) | Indian National Congress (R) | Position vacant (19 Mar. 1972 – 30 Apr. 1977) | Mishra I | R. D. Bhandare |
| President's rule was imposed in during the period (30 April – 24 June 1977) ||||||||||||
| (11) | Karpoori Thakur (1924–1988) MLA for Phulparas | 24 June 1977 | 21 April 1979 | 1 year, 301 days | 1977 (7th) | Janata Party | Position vacant (24 Jun. 1977 – 17 Feb. 1980) | Thakur II | Jagannath Kaushal |
| 15 | Ram Sundar Das (1921–2015) MLA for Sonpur | 21 April 1979 | 17 February 1980 | 302 days | 1977 (7th) | Janata Party | Position vacant (24 Jun. 1977 – 17 Feb. 1980) | Das | Jagannath Kaushal |
| President's rule was imposed in during the period (14 February – 8 June 1980) ||||||||||||
| (14) | Jagannath Mishra (1937–2019) MLA for Jhanjharpur | 8 June 1980 | 14 August 1983 | 3 years, 67 days | 1980 (8th) | Indian National Congress (I) | Position vacant (8 Jun. 1980 – 28 Mar. 1995) | Mishra II | A. R. Kidwai |
| 16 | Chandrashekhar Singh (1927–1986) MLC | 14 August 1983 | 12 March 1985 | 1 year, 210 days | 1980 (8th) | Indian National Congress (I) | Position vacant (8 Jun. 1980 – 28 Mar. 1995) | Chandrashekhar | A. R. Kidwai |
| 17 | Bindeshwari Dubey (1921–1993) MLA for Shahpur | 12 March 1985 | 13 February 1988 | 2 years, 338 days | 1985 (9th) | Indian National Congress (I) | Position vacant (8 Jun. 1980 – 28 Mar. 1995) | Dubey | A. R. Kidwai |
| 18 | Bhagwat Jha Azad (1922–2011) MLC | 13 February 1988 | 10 March 1989 | 1 year, 25 days | 1985 (9th) | Indian National Congress (I) | Position vacant (8 Jun. 1980 – 28 Mar. 1995) | Azad | P. Venkatasubbaiah |
| 19 | Satyendra Narayan Sinha (1917–2006) MLC | 11 March 1989 | 6 December 1989 | 270 days | 1985 (9th) | Indian National Congress (I) | Position vacant (8 Jun. 1980 – 28 Mar. 1995) | Satyendra | Jagannath Pahadia |
| (14) | Jagannath Mishra (1937–2019) MLA for Jhanjharpur | 6 December 1989 | 10 March 1990 | 94 days | 1985 (9th) | Indian National Congress (I) | Position vacant (8 Jun. 1980 – 28 Mar. 1995) | Mishra III | Jagannath Pahadia |
| 20 | Lalu Prasad Yadav (born 1948) MLC | 10 March 1990 | 28 March 1995 | 5 years, 18 days | 1990 (10th) | Janata Dal | Position vacant (8 Jun. 1980 – 28 Mar. 1995) | Yadav I | Mohammad Yunus Saleem |
| President's rule was imposed in during the period (28 March – 4 April 1995) ||||||||||||
| (20) | Lalu Prasad Yadav (born 1948) MLA for Raghopur | 4 April 1995 | 25 July 1997 | 2 years, 112 days | 1995 (11th) | Janata Dal | Position vacant (4 Apr. 1995 – 11 Feb. 1999) | Yadav II | A. R. Kidwai |
| (20) | Lalu Prasad Yadav (born 1948) MLA for Raghopur | 4 April 1995 | 25 July 1997 | 2 years, 112 days | 1995 (11th) | Rashtriya Janata Dal | Position vacant (4 Apr. 1995 – 11 Feb. 1999) | Yadav II | A. R. Kidwai |
| 21 | Rabri Devi (born 1955) MLC | 25 July 1997 | 11 February 1999 | 1 year, 201 days | 1995 (11th) | Rashtriya Janata Dal | Position vacant (4 Apr. 1995 – 11 Feb. 1999) | Rabri I | A. R. Kidwai |
| President's rule was imposed in during the period (11 February – 9 March 1999) ||||||||||||
| (21) | Rabri Devi (born 1955) MLC | 9 March 1999 | 2 March 2000 | 359 days | – (11th) | Rashtriya Janata Dal | Position vacant (9 Mar. 1999 – 6 Mar. 2005) | Rabri II | Sunder Singh Bhandari |
| 22 | Nitish Kumar (born 1951) MLC | 3 March 2000 | 10 March 2000 | 7 days | 2000 (12th) | Samata Party | Position vacant (9 Mar. 1999 – 6 Mar. 2005) | Kumar I | V. C. Pande |
| (21) | Rabri Devi (born 1955) MLA for Raghopur | 11 March 2000 | 6 March 2005 | 4 years, 360 days | 2000 (12th) | Rashtriya Janata Dal | Position vacant (9 Mar. 1999 – 6 Mar. 2005) | Rabri III | V. C. Pande |
| President's rule was imposed in during the period (7 March – 24 November 2005)Elections were held to elect the 13th Assembly in February 2005, but no government was formed. ||||||||||||
| (22) | Nitish Kumar (born 1951) MLC | 24 November 2005 | 20 May 2014 | 8 years, 177 days | Oct. 2005 (14th) | Janata Dal (United) | Sushil Kumar Modi (24 Nov. 2005 – 16 Jun. 2013) Position vacant (16 Jun. 2013 – 20 May. 2014) | Kumar II | Buta Singh |
| (22) | Nitish Kumar (born 1951) MLC | 24 November 2005 | 20 May 2014 | 8 years, 177 days | 2010 (15th) | Janata Dal (United) | Sushil Kumar Modi (24 Nov. 2005 – 16 Jun. 2013) Position vacant (16 Jun. 2013 – 20 May. 2014) | Kumar III | Devanand Konwar |
| 23 | Jitan Ram Manjhi (born 1944) MLA for Makhdumpur | 20 May 2014 | 22 February 2015 | 278 days | 2010 (15th) | Janata Dal (United) | Position vacant (20 May. 2014 – 20 Nov. 2015) | Manjhi | D. Y. Patil |
| (22) | Nitish Kumar (born 1951) MLC | 22 February 2015 | Incumbent | 10 years, 9 days | 2010 (15th) | Janata Dal (United) | Position vacant (20 May. 2014 – 20 Nov. 2015) | Kumar IV | Keshari Nath Tripathi |
| (22) | Nitish Kumar (born 1951) MLC | 22 February 2015 | Incumbent | 2015 (16th) | Tejashwi Yadav (24 Nov. 2015 – 26 Jul. 2017) | Janata Dal (United) | Kumar V | Ram Nath Kovind |
| (22) | Nitish Kumar (born 1951) MLC | 22 February 2015 | Incumbent | 2015 (16th) | Sushil Kumar Modi (27 Jul. 2017 – 16 Nov. 2020) | Janata Dal (United) | Kumar VI | Keshari Nath Tripathi |
| (22) | Nitish Kumar (born 1951) MLC | 22 February 2015 | Incumbent | 2020 (17th) | Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi (16 Nov. 2020 – 9 Aug. 2022) | Janata Dal (United) | Kumar VII | Phagu Chauhan |
| (22) | Nitish Kumar (born 1951) MLC | 22 February 2015 | Incumbent | 2020 (17th) | Tejashwi Yadav (10 Aug. 2022 – 28 Jan. 2024) | Janata Dal (United) | Kumar VIII | Phagu Chauhan |
| (22) | Nitish Kumar (born 1951) MLC | 22 February 2015 | Incumbent | 2020 (17th) | Vijay Kumar Sinha and Samrat Choudhary (since 28 Jan. 2024) | Janata Dal (United) | Kumar IX | Rajendra Arlekar |

## Statistics

* Indian National Congress (43.21%)
* Janata Dal (United) (25.29%)
* Rashtriya Janata Dal (10.14%)
* Janata Dal (9.77%)
* Janata Party (3.55%)
* Others (4.37%)
* President's Rule (3.67%)
| No. | Name | Party | Party | Length of term | Length of term |
| No. | Name | Party | Party | Longest continuous term | Total years of premiership |
| 1 | Nitish Kumar | | JD(U) | 10 years, 9 days | 18 years, 90 days |
| 2 | Shri Krishna Sinha | | INC | 14 years, 314 days | 17 years, 51 days |
| 3 | Rabri Devi | | RJD | 4 years, 360 days | 7 year, 190 days |
| 4 | Lalu Prasad Yadav | | JD | 5 years, 18 days | 7 years, 130 days |
| 5 | Jagannath Mishra | | INC | 3 years, 67 days | 5 years, 180 days |
| 6 | Krishna Ballabh Sahay | | INC | 3 years, 154 days | 3 years, 154 days |
| 7 | Bindeshwari Dubey | | INC | 2 years, 338 days | 2 years, 338 days |
| 8 | Binodanand Jha | | INC | 2 years, 226 days | 2 years, 226 days |
| 9 | Karpoori Thakur | | SP | 1 year, 301 days | 2 years, 98 days |
| 10 | Abdul Ghafoor | | INC | 1 year, 283 days | 1 year, 283 days |
| 11 | Chandrashekhar Singh | | INC | 1 year, 210 days | 1 year, 210 days |
| 12 | Kedar Pandey | | INC | 1 year, 105 days | 1 year, 105 days |
| 13 | Bhagwat Jha Azad | | INC | 1 year, 24 days | 1 year, 24 days |
| 14 | Mahamaya Prasad Sinha | | JKD | 329 days | 329 days |
| 15 | Daroga Prasad Rai | | INC | 310 days | 310 days |
| 16 | Ram Sundar Das | | JP | 302 days | 302 days |
| 17 | Jitan Ram Manjhi | | JD(U) | 278 days | 278 days |
| 18 | Satyendra Narayan Sinha | | INC | 270 days | 270 days |
| 19 | Harihar Singh | | INC | 117 days | 117 days |
| 20 | Bhola Paswan Shastri | | INC | 99 days | 112 days |
| 21 | Bindheshwari Prasad Mandal | | SSP | 51 days | 51 days |
| 22 | Deep Narayan Singh | | INC | 17 days | 17 days |
| 23 | Satish Prasad Singh | | SSP | 5 days | 5 days |