Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], December 10 (HBTV): Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma has praised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saying the JD(U) leader continues to enjoy strong public support and remains central to Bihar's political stability.
Speaking to ANI in Raipur, Sharma said, 'We have seen the love people have for Nitish Kumar. He is going to become the Chief Minister for the tenth time. We are also visiting Patna to participate in the oath-taking ceremony.' He added that Kumar's repeated return to office reflects the trust he continues to command across Bihar. 'Nitish Kumar is returning as Chief Minister for the tenth time and I have seen the acceptance for him there. Bihar will progress further in the coming time,' he told reporters.
Sharma also highlighted President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Chhattisgarh for Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas and credited the Vishnu Deo Sai-led state government, along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, for what he described as historic progress in anti-Naxalite operations and rehabilitation measures. 'President Droupadi Murmu is visiting Chhattisgarh today for the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas,' he said, noting that her visit underscores the Centre's continued focus on tribal welfare.
He said, 'The work that has been done in the government of CM Vishnu Deo Sai and under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah are all historic. Whether it was a good rehabilitation policy or working on a Naxalite basis, all of these things were addressed simultaneously.'
Earlier in the day, Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister for a record tenth time. Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha also took oath as Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other National Democratic Alliance leaders.
The ceremony was administered by Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan. A total of 25 leaders, apart from Nitish Kumar, took oath as members of the new NDA-led Bihar Cabinet. Those sworn in included Samrat Choudhary (BJP), Vijay Kumar Sinha (BJP), Vijay Kumar Choudhary (JD-U), Bijendra Prasad Yadav (JD-U), Shravan Kumar (JD-U), Mangal Pandey (BJP), Dilip Kumar Jaiswal (BJP) and Ashok Choudhary (JD-U).
Other ministers included Lesi Singh (JD-U), Madan Sahani (JD-U), Nitin Nabin (BJP), Ram Kripal Yadav (BJP), Santosh Kumar Suman of HAM(S), Sunil Kumar (JD-U), Mohammad Zama Khan (JD-U) and Sanjay Singh Tigar (BJP). The list also featured Arun Shankar Prasad (BJP), Surendra Mehta (BJP), Narayan Prasad (BJP), Rama Nishad (BJP), Lakhendra Kumar Raushan (BJP) and Shreyashi Singh (BJP). Additionally, Pramod Kumar (BJP), Sanjay Kumar of LJP(RV), Sanjay Kumar Singh of LJP(RV) and Deepak Prakash of the RLM were sworn in as ministers.
The swearing-in took place at Patna's historic Gandhi Maidan, which also hosted Nitish Kumar's inaugurations in 2005, 2010 and 2015. It was at this venue that Jayaprakash Narayan called for 'total revolution' in 1974.
Chief Ministers of several NDA-ruled states — including Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami — attended the ceremony. Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and LJP(RV) chief Chirag Paswan were also present.
The 2025 Bihar Assembly polls were considered a major test for Nitish Kumar, who has shaped the state's political landscape for more than 20 years. The 74-year-old leader has served as Chief Minister since November 2005, with a brief nine-month gap in 2014–15. He staked claim to form the government after the National Democratic Alliance swept 202 assembly constituencies. (ANI)