View source for Chief Minister of Bihar

{{short description|Leader of the Executive of the Government of Bihar}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date= June 2023}}

{{Infobox political post
| post = Chief Minister
| body = Bihar
| insignia = File:Seal of Bihar.svg
| insigniasize = 180px
| insigniacaption = [[Emblem of Bihar]]
| image = The Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Nitish Kumar meeting with the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia to finalize Annual Plan 2007-08 of the State, in New Delhi on February 14, 2007 (Nitish Kumar) (cropped).jpg
| imagesize = 
| seat = [[Patna Secretariat]]
| incumbent = [[Nitish Kumar]]
| incumbentsince = 22 February 2015
| department = [[Government of Bihar]]
| type = [[Government of Bihar|Head of Government]]
| status = Leader of the Executive
| abbreviation = CM
| member_of = {{hlist|[[Ninth Nitish Kumar ministry|Cabinet]]|[[Bihar Legislature]]}}
| reportsto = * [[Governor of Bihar]]
* [[Bihar Legislature]]
| appointer = [[Governor of Bihar]] by [[Political convention|convention]] based on appointees ability to command [[confidence]] in the [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
| termlength = At the confidence of the assembly
| termlength_qualified = Chief minister's term is for 5 years and is subject to no [[term limit]]s.<ref name="term1" />
| inaugural = [[Shri Krishna Sinha]]
| formation = {{Start date and age|1950|01|26|df=y|p=y}}
| residence = [[1, Aney Marg]], [[Patna]]
| website = {{URL|https://cm.bihar.gov.in}}
| style = [[The Honourable]] {{small|(Formal)}}<br/>[[Mister|Mr./Mrs. Chief Minister]] {{small|(Informal)}}
| deputy = [[Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar]]
| salary = *{{INRConvert|215000}}/monthly
*{{INRConvert|2580000}}/annually
| nominator = Members of the [[Government of Bihar]] in [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
| precursor = Premier 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]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Chief Minister of Bihar | url=https://www.bihar.com/ChiefMinister.aspx | website=Bihar News Information Portal | access-date=December 16, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Bihar Legislative Assembly | url=https://vidhansabha.bih.nic.in/ | website=BIHAR VIDHAN SABHA | access-date=December 16, 2024 }}</ref> 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 [[political party|party]] or [[coalition]] in the assembly. Upon taking office, they form a [[Council of Ministers (India)|council of ministers]], assigning portfolios to manage various [[Government ministry|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 (government)|cabinet]] meetings, drafting and implementing state policies, and presenting the annual [[budget]]. In addition to maintaining [[law and order in India|law and order]], the chief minister directs efforts toward [[economic development in India|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 [[Bihar Legislative Assembly|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 [[legislation|legislative]], [[economy of Bihar|economic]], and [[Social change|social development]] efforts.<ref name="term1" />

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]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Nitish Kumar Takes Oath as Bihar Chief Minister for Record 9th Time | url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nitish-kumar-takes-oath-as-bihar-chief-minister-for-record-9th-time-4947828 | newspaper=NDTV | date=January 28, 2024 | access-date=December 16, 2024 }}</ref>

== List ==                   
===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 [[Democracy|democratic]] framework.<ref>{{cite web|title=How Bihar was carved out of the Bengal Presidency in 1912|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/bihar-day-why-was-bihar-carved-out-of-the-bengal-presidency-in-1912-8513141/|website=www.indianexpress.com|date=22 March 2023 |access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nitish Kumar's government in Bihar not outvoted as much as outmanoeuvred by Laloo Yadav |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20000320-nitish-kumars-government-in-bihar-not-outvoted-as-much-as-outmanoeuvred-by-laloo-yadav-777236-2000-03-20}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" 
! rowspan="2" | {{Abbr|No.|Number}}{{efn|A parenthetical number indicates that the incumbent has previously held office.}}
! rowspan="2" | Portrait
! rowspan="2" | Name
! colspan="3" |Term of office
! rowspan="2" |Party
|-
!Took office
!Left office
!Tenure
|-
|- style="height: 60px;" align="center"
| 1
| [[File:Mohammad Yunus, First Premier of Bihar.jpg|75x101px]]
| [[Mohammad Yunus (politician)|Mohammad Yunus]]
| 1 April 1937
| 19 July 1937
| {{ayd|1937|04|1|1937|07|19}}
| [[Muslim Independent Party]] 
|- style="height: 60px;" align="center"
| 2
| [[File:Shri_Krishna_Singh_2016_stamp_of_India.jpg|101x101px]]
| [[Shri Krishna Sinha]]
| 20 July 1937
| 31 October 1939
|{{ayd|1937|07|20|1939|10|31}}
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|- style="height: 60px;" align="center"
| (2)
| [[File:Shri_Krishna_Singh_2016_stamp_of_India.jpg|101x101px]]
| [[Shri Krishna Sinha]]
| 23 March 1946
| 14 August 1947
|{{age in years and days|23 March 1946|14 August 1947}}
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|- align="center"
|-
|}

===Chief ministers of Bihar===
=== Key ===
'''Colour key for political parties'''
{{legend|{{party color|Indian National Congress}}|[[Indian National Congress]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Janata Dal (United)}}|[[Janata Dal (United)]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Rashtriya Janata Dal}}|[[Rashtriya Janata Dal]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Janata Dal}}|[[Janata Dal]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Samata Party}}|[[Samata Party]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|pink|[[Socialist Party]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|Yellow|[[Indian National Congress (O)]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|White|N/A ([[President's rule]])|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
* No.: Incumbent number
* {{note label|§|§|§}} Assassinated or died in office
* {{note label|RES|RES|RES}} Resigned
* {{note label|NC|NC|NC}} Resigned following a [[no-confidence motion]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!#
!Portrait
!Name
!Constituency
! colspan="3" |Term of office
!Assembly
{{small|(Election)}}
! colspan="2" |Party{{efn|This column only names the chief minister's party. The state government he heads may be a complex coalition of several parties and independents; these are not listed here.}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |1
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Shri_Krishna_Singh_2016_stamp_of_India.jpg|101x101px]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Shri Krishna Sinha]]
| rowspan="2" |Kharagpur
|26 January 1950
|29 April 1952
| rowspan="3" |{{Age in years and days|26 january 1950|31 january 1961}}
|Provincial
{{small|([[1946 Indian provincial elections|1946 election]])}}
| rowspan="7" |[[Indian National Congress]]
| rowspan="7" style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
|-
|29 April 1952
|5 May 1957
|1st
{{small|([[1952 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1952 election]])}}
|-
|[[Sheikhpura Assembly constituency|Sheikhpura]]
|5 May 1957
|31 January 1961{{ref label|†|†|†}}
| rowspan="3" |2nd
{{small|([[1957 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1957 election]])}}
|-
|2
|
|[[Deep Narayan Singh]]
|[[Hajipur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Hajipur]]
|1 February 1961
|18 February 1961
|{{Age in years and days|1 february 1961|18 february 1961}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |3
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Binodanand_Jha_portrait.gif|100x100px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Binodanand Jha]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Rajmahal Lok Sabha constituency|Rajmahal]]
|18 February 1961
|15 March 1962
| rowspan="2" |{{Age in years and days|18 february 1961|2 october 1963}}
|-
|15 March 1962
|2 October 1963
| rowspan="2" |3rd
{{small|([[1962 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1962 election]])}}
|-
|4
|[[File:Krishna_Ballabh_Sahay_(cropped).jpg|90x90px]]
|[[Krishna Ballabh Sahay]]
|[[Patna West (Assembly constituency)|Patna West]]
|2 October 1963
|5 March 1967
|{{Age in years and days|2 october 1963|5 march 1967}}
|-
|5
|[[File:Mahamaya_Prasad_Sinha_portrait.gif|112x112px]]
|[[Mahamaya Prasad Sinha]]
|[[Patna West (Assembly constituency)|Patna West]]
|5 March 1967
|28 January 1968
|{{Age in years and days|5 march 1967|28 january 1968}}
| rowspan="4" |4th
<small>([[1967 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1967 election]])</small>
|Jana Kranti Dal
|style="background-color: red" |
|-
|6
|[[File:Satish_Prasad_Singh_CM.gif|88x88px]]
|[[Satish Prasad Singh]]
|[[Parbatta (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Parbatta]]
|28 January 1968
|1 February 1968
|{{Age in years and days|28 january 1968|1 february 1968}}
| rowspan="2" |Shoshit Dal
| rowspan="2" style="background-color: #CD8C95" |
|-
|7
|[[File:B.P Mandal.jpg|84x84px]]
|[[B. P. Mandal]]
|[[Bihar Legislative Council|MLC]]
|1 February 1968
|22 March 1968
|{{Age in years and days|1 february 1968|22 march 1968}}
|-
|8
|[[File:Bhola_Pawan_Shastri_portrait.jpg|94x94px]]
|[[Bhola Paswan Shastri]]
|[[Korha (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Korha]]
|22 March 1968
|29 June 1968
|{{Age in years and days|22 march 1968|29 june 1968}}
|Loktantrik Congress
|style="background-color: {{party color|Akhil Bharatiya Loktantrik Congress}}" |
|-
|–
|[[File:Emblem_of_India.svg|alt=State Emblem of India|120x120px]]
|''Vacant''{{efn|[[President's rule]] may be imposed when the "government in a state is not able to function as per the Constitution", which often happens because no party or coalition has a majority in the assembly. When President's rule is in force in a state, its council of ministers stands dissolved. The office of chief minister thus lies vacant, and the administration is taken over by the governor, who functions on behalf of the central government. At times, the legislative assembly also stands dissolved.<ref name="Diwanji">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.co.in/news/2005/mar/15spec1.htm |title=A dummy's guide to President's rule |website=Rediff.com |date=15 March 2005}}</ref>|name=PR}}
([[President's rule]])
|N/A
|29 June 1968
|26 February 1969
|{{Age in years and days|29 june 1968|26 february 1969}}
|''Dissolved''
| colspan="2" |N/A
|-
|9
|[[File:Harihar_Singh_Mardaraj_Bhramarabara_Roy.jpg|122x122px]]
|[[Harihar Singh]]
|[[Nayagram Assembly constituency|Nayagram]]
|26 February 1969
|22 June 1969
|{{Age in years and days|26 february 1969|22 june 1969}}
| rowspan="6" |5th
[[1969 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|<small>(1969 election)</small>]]
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
|-
|(8)
|[[File:Bhola_Pawan_Shastri_portrait.jpg|94x94px]]
|[[Bhola Paswan Shastri]]
|[[Korha (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Korha]]
|22 June 1969
|4 July 1969
|{{Age in years and days|22 june 1969|4 july 1969}}
|Loktantrik Congress
|style="background-color: {{party color|Akhil Bharatiya Loktantrik Congress}}" |
|-
|–
|[[File:Emblem_of_India.svg|alt=State Emblem of India|120x120px]]
|''Vacant''{{efn|name=PR}}
|N/A
|4 July 1969
|16 February 1970
|{{Age in years and days|4 july 1969|16 february 1970}}
| colspan="2" |N/A
|-
|10
|[[File:NitishKumarPayingTributeToDPRai.jpg|84x84px]]
|[[Daroga Prasad Rai]]
|[[Parsa (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Parsa]]
|16 February 1970
|22 December 1970
|{{Age in years and days|16 february 1970|22 december 1970}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress (R)}}" |
|-
|11
|[[File:Karpoori_Thakur_1991_stamp_of_India.jpg|99x99px]]
|[[Karpoori Thakur]]
|Tajpur
|22 December 1970
|2 June 1971
|{{Age in years and days|22 december 1970|2 june 1971}}
|[[Samyukta Socialist Party]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Samyukta Socialist Party}}" |
|-
|(8)
|[[File:Bhola_Pawan_Shastri_portrait.jpg|94x94px]]
|[[Bhola Paswan Shastri]]
|[[Korha (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Korha]]
|2 June 1971
|9 January 1972
|{{Age in years and days|2 june 1971|9 january 1972}}
|Loktantrik Congress
|style="background-color: {{party color|Akhil Bharatiya Loktantrik Congress}}" |
|-
|–
|[[File:Emblem_of_India.svg|alt=State Emblem of India|120x120px]]
|''Vacant''{{efn|name=PR}}
|N/A
|9 January 1972
|19 March 1972
|{{Age in years and days|9 january 1972|19 march 1972}}
|''Dissolved''
| colspan="2" |N/A
|-
|12
|[[File:Kedar_Pandey.jpg|94x94px]]
|[[Kedar Pandey]]
|[[Nautan (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Nautan]]
|19 March 1972
|2 July 1973
|{{Age in years and days|19 march 1972|2 july 1973}}
| rowspan="3" |6th
[[1972 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|<small>(1972 election)</small>]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Indian National Congress]]
| rowspan="3" style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
|-
|13
|[[File:Abdul_Ghafoor_portrait.jpg|87x87px]]
|[[Abdul Ghafoor (politician, born 1918)|Abdul Ghafoor]]
|[[Bihar Legislative Council|MLC]]
|2 July 1973
|11 April 1975
|{{Age in years and days|2 july 1973|11 april 1975}}
|-
|14
|
|[[Jagannath Mishra]]
|[[Jhanjharpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jhanjharpur]]
|11 April 1975
|30 April 1977
|{{Age in years and days|11 april 1975|30 april 1977}}
|-
|–
|[[File:Emblem_of_India.svg|alt=State Emblem of India|120x120px]]
|''Vacant''{{efn|name=PR}}
|N/A
|30 April 1977
|24 June 1977
|{{Age in years and days|30 april 1977|24 june 1977}}
|''Dissolved''
| colspan="2" |N/A
|-
|(11)
|[[File:Karpoori_Thakur_1991_stamp_of_India.jpg|99x99px]]
|[[Karpoori Thakur]]
|[[Phulparas (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Phulparas]]
|24 June 1977
|21 April 1979
|{{Age in years and days|24 june 1977|21 april 1979}}
| rowspan="2" |7th
[[1977 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|<small>(1977 election)</small>]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Janata Party]]
| rowspan="2" style="background-color: {{party color|Janata Party}}" |
|-
|15
|[[File:Ram_Sundar_Das_portrait.jpg|109x109px]]
|[[Ram Sundar Das]]
|[[Sonepur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Sonepur]]
|21 April 1979
|17 February 1980
|{{Age in years and days|21 april 1979|17 february 1980}}
|-
|–
|[[File:Emblem_of_India.svg|alt=State Emblem of India|120x120px]]
|''Vacant''{{efn|name=PR}}
|N/A
|17 February 1980
|8 June 1980
|{{Age in years and days|17 february 1980|8 june 1980}}
|
| colspan="2" |N/A
|-
|(14)
|
|[[Jagannath Mishra]]
|[[Jhanjharpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jhanjharpur]]
|8 June 1980
|14 August 1983
|{{Age in years and days|8 june 1980|14 august 1983}}
| rowspan="2" |8th
[[1980 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|<small>(1980 election)</small>]]
| rowspan="6" |[[Indian National Congress]]
| rowspan="6" style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
|-
|16
|[[File:Chandra-Shekhar-Singh.jpg|104x104px]]
|[[Chandrashekhar Singh]]
|[[Bihar Legislative Council|MLC]]
|14 August 1983
|12 March 1985
|{{Age in years and days|14 august 1983|12 march 1985}}
|-
|17
|[[File:B.dubey(3).jpg|94x94px]]
|[[Bindeshwari Dubey]]
|[[Shahpur, Bihar Assembly constituency|Shahpur]]
|12 March 1985
|14 February 1988
|{{Age in years and days|12 march 1985|14 february 1988}}
| rowspan="4" |9th
[[1985 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|<small>(1985 election)</small>]]
|-
|18
|[[File:Bhagwat_Jha_Azad.jpg|108x108px]]
|[[Bhagwat Jha Azad]]
|[[Bihar Legislative Council|MLC]]
|14 February 1988
|11 March 1989
|{{Age in years and days|14 february 1988|11 march 1989}}
|-
|19
|[[File:Satyendra_Narayan_Sinha_portrait.gif|105x105px]]
|[[Satyendra Narayan Sinha]]
|[[Bihar Legislative Council|MLC]]
|11 March 1989
|6 December 1989
|{{Age in years and days|11 march 1989|6 december 1989}}
|-
|(14)
|
|[[Jagannath Mishra]]
|[[Jhanjharpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jhanjharpur]]
|6 December 1989
|10 March 1990
|{{Age in years and days|6 december 1989|10 march 1990}}
|-
|20
|[[File:The_Union_Minister_for_Railways,_Shri_Lalu_Prasad_addressing_the_Media_to_announce_a_policy_matter_in_New_Delhi_on_September_12,_2004.jpg|94x94px]]
|[[Lalu Prasad Yadav]]
|[[Bihar Legislative Council|MLC]]
|10 March 1990
|28 March 1995
|{{Age in years and days|10 march 1990|28 march 1995}}
|10th
[[1990 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|<small>(1990 election)</small>]]
|[[Janata Dal]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Janata Dal}}" |
|-
|–
|[[File:Emblem_of_India.svg|alt=State Emblem of India|120x120px]]
|''Vacant''{{efn|name=PR}}
|N/A
|28 March 1995
|4 April 1995
|{{Age in years and days|28 march 1995|4 april 1995}}
|''Dissolved''
| colspan="2" |N/A
|-
| rowspan="2" |(20)
| rowspan="2" |[[File:The_Union_Minister_for_Railways,_Shri_Lalu_Prasad_addressing_the_Media_to_announce_a_policy_matter_in_New_Delhi_on_September_12,_2004.jpg|94x94px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Lalu Prasad Yadav]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Raghopur, Vaishali (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Raghopur]]
| rowspan="2" |4 April 1995
| rowspan="2" |25 July 1997
| rowspan="2" |{{Age in years and days|4 april 1995|25 july 1997}}
| rowspan="5" |[[Bihar Legislative Assembly|11th]]
[[1995 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|<small>(1995 election)</small>]]
|[[Janata Dal]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Janata Dal}}" |
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Rashtriya Janata Dal]]
| rowspan="2" style="background-color: {{party color|Rashtriya Janata Dal}}" |
|-
|21
|[[File:Rabri_Devi_presenting_a_cheque_for_Rs._10_crore_on_behalf_of_the_State_Government_to_the_Prime_Minister,_Dr._Manmohan_Singh_for_the_Prime_Minister's_National_Relief_Fund,_in_New_Delhi_on_January_04,_2005_(cropped).jpg|94x94px]]
|[[Rabri Devi]]
|[[Bihar Legislative Council|MLC]]
|25 July 1997
|11 February 1999
|{{Age in years and days|25 july 1997|11 february 1999}}
|-
|–
|[[File:Emblem_of_India.svg|alt=State Emblem of India|120x120px]]
|''Vacant''{{efn|name=PR}})
|N/A
|11 February 1999
|9 March 1999
|{{Age in years and days|11 february 1999|9 march 1999}}
| colspan="2" |N/A
|-
|(21)
|[[File:Rabri_Devi_presenting_a_cheque_for_Rs._10_crore_on_behalf_of_the_State_Government_to_the_Prime_Minister,_Dr._Manmohan_Singh_for_the_Prime_Minister's_National_Relief_Fund,_in_New_Delhi_on_January_04,_2005_(cropped).jpg|94x94px]]
|[[Rabri Devi]]
|[[Bihar Legislative Council|MLC]]
|9 March 1999
|3 March 2000
|{{Age in years and days|9 march 1999|3 march 2000}}
|[[Rashtriya Janata Dal]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Rashtriya Janata Dal}}" |
|-
|22
|[[File:Nitish Kumar.jpg|99x99px]]
|[[Nitish Kumar]]
|[[Bihar Legislative Council|MLC]]
|3 March 2000
|11 March 2000<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Nitish Kumar's government in Bihar not outvoted as much as outmanoeuvred by Laloo Yadav |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20000320-nitish-kumars-government-in-bihar-not-outvoted-as-much-as-outmanoeuvred-by-laloo-yadav-777236-2000-03-20}}</ref>
|{{Age in years and days|3 march 2000|11 march 2000}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Bihar Legislative Assembly|12th]]
[[2000 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|<small>(2000 election)</small>]]
|[[Samata Party]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Samata Party}}" |
|-
|(21)
|[[File:Rabri_Devi_presenting_a_cheque_for_Rs._10_crore_on_behalf_of_the_State_Government_to_the_Prime_Minister,_Dr._Manmohan_Singh_for_the_Prime_Minister's_National_Relief_Fund,_in_New_Delhi_on_January_04,_2005_(cropped).jpg|94x94px]]
|[[Rabri Devi]] {{efn|On 15 November 2000, the new state of [[Jharkhand]] was carved out of Bihar.}}
|[[Raghopur, Vaishali (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Raghopur]]
|11 March 2000
|7 March 2005
|{{Age in years and days|11 march 2000|7 march 2005}}
|[[Rashtriya Janata Dal]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Rashtriya Janata Dal}}" |
|-
|–
|[[File:Emblem_of_India.svg|alt=State Emblem of India|120x120px]]
|''Vacant''{{efn|name=PR}}
|N/A
|7 March 2005
|24 November 2005
|{{Age in years and days|7 march 2005|24 november 2005}}
|[[Bihar Legislative Assembly|13th]]
[[February 2005 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|<small>(Feb 2005 election)</small>]]
| colspan="2" |N/A
|-
| rowspan="2" |(22)
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Nitish Kumar.jpg|99x99px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Nitish Kumar]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Bihar Legislative Council|MLC]]
|24 November 2005
|26 November 2010
| rowspan="2" |{{Age in years and days|24 november 2005|20 may 2014}}
|[[Bihar Legislative Assembly|14th]]
[[October 2005 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|<small>(Oct 2005 election)</small>]]
| rowspan="6" |[[Janata Dal (United)]]
| rowspan="6" style="background-color: {{party color|Janata Dal (United)}}" |
|-
|26 November 2010
|20 May 2014
| rowspan="3" |[[Bihar Legislative Assembly|15th]]
[[2010 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|<small>(2010 election)</small>]]
|-
|23
|[[File:Jitan_Ram_Manjhi_June_2024_cropped.jpg|93x93px]]
|[[Jitan Ram Manjhi]]
|[[Makhdumpur Assembly constituency|Makhdumpur]]
|20 May 2014
|22 February 2015
|{{Age in years and days|20 may 2014|22 february 2015}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |(22)
| rowspan="3" |[[File:The_Chief_Minister_of_Bihar,_Shri_Nitish_Kumar_meeting_with_the_Deputy_Chairman,_Planning_Commission,_Shri_Montek_Singh_Ahluwalia_to_finalize_Annual_Plan_2007-08_of_the_State,_in_New_Delhi_on_February_14,_2007_(Nitish_Kumar)_(cropped).jpg|99x99px]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Nitish Kumar]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Bihar Legislative Council|MLC]]
|22 February 2015
|20 November 2015
| rowspan="3" |{{Age in years and days|22 february 2015|}}
|-
|20 November 2015
|16 November 2020
|[[16th Bihar Assembly|16th]]
[[2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|<small>(2015 election)</small>]]
|-
|16 November 2020
|''Incumbent''
|[[17th Bihar Assembly|17th]]
[[2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|<small>(2020 election)</small>]]
|}

== Statistics ==
{{Pie chart|
 | caption= Fraction of time of holding CMO by party (as of October 2024)

 | label1 = [[Indian National Congress]]
 | value1 = 43.21 | color1 = {{party color|Indian National Congress}}
 | label2 = [[Janata Dal (United)]]
 | value2 = 25.29 | color2 = {{party color|Janata Dal (United)}}
 | label3 = [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]]
 | value3 = 10.14  | color3 = {{party color|Rashtriya Janata Dal}}
 | label4 = [[Janata Dal]]
 | value4 = 9.77  | color4 = {{party color|Janata Dal}}
 | label5 = [[Janata Party]]
 | value5 = 3.55  | color5 = {{party color|Janata Party}}
 | label6 = Others
 | value6 = 4.37  | color6 = lightgrey
 | label7 = [[President's Rule]]
 | value7 = 3.67  | color7 = grey
}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="line-height:1.5em; text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|No.}}
! rowspan="2" | Name
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" | Party
! colspan="2" | Length of term
|-
! Longest continuous term
! Total years of premiership
|-
! data-sort-value="1" | 1
| '''[[Nitish Kumar]]'''
| style="background-color: {{party color|Janata Dal (United)}}" |
| '''[[Janata Dal (United)|JD(U)]]'''
| {{age in years and days|2015|02|22}}
| '''18 years, 90 days'''
|-
! data-sort-value="2" | 2
| [[Shri Krishna Sinha]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| 14 years, 314 days
| 17 years, 51 days
|-
! data-sort-value="3" | 3
| [[Rabri Devi]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Rashtriya Janata Dal}}" |
| [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|RJD]]
| 4 years, 360 days
| 7 year, 190 days
|-
! data-sort-value="4" | 4
| [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Rashtriya Janata Dal}}" |
| [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|JD]]
| 5 years, 18 days
| 7 years, 130 days
|-
! data-sort-value="5" | 5
| [[Jagannath Mishra]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| 3 years, 67 days
| 5 years, 180 days
|-
! data-sort-value="6" | 6
| [[Krishna Ballabh Sahay]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| 3 years, 154 days
| 3 years, 154 days
|-
! data-sort-value="7" | 7
| [[Bindeshwari Dubey]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| 2 years, 338 days
| 2 years, 338 days
|-
! data-sort-value="8" | 8
| [[Binodanand Jha]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| 2 years, 226 days
| 2 years, 226 days
|-
! data-sort-value="9" | 9
| [[Karpoori Thakur]]
| style="background-color: pink" |
| [[Socialist Party (India)|SP]]
| 1 year, 301 days
| 2 years, 98 days
|-
! data-sort-value="10" | 10
| [[Abdul Ghafoor]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| 1 year, 283 days
| 1 year, 283 days
|-
! data-sort-value="11" | 11
| [[Chandrashekhar Singh]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| 1 year, 210 days	
| 1 year, 210 days
|-
! data-sort-value="12" | 12
| [[Kedar Pandey]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| 1 year, 105 days
| 1 year, 105 days
|-
! data-sort-value="13" | 13
| [[Bhagwat Jha Azad]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| 1 year, 24 days
| 1 year, 24 days
|-
! data-sort-value="14" | 14
| [[Mahamaya Prasad Sinha]]
| style="background-color: red" |
| JKD
| 329 days
| 329 days
|-
! data-sort-value="15" | 15
| [[Daroga Prasad Rai]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| 310 days
| 310 days
|-
! data-sort-value="16" | 16
| [[Ram Sundar Das]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Janata Party}} " |
| [[Janata Party|JP]]
| 302 days
| 302 days
|-
! data-sort-value="17" | 17
| [[Jitan Ram Manjhi]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Janata Dal (United)}}" |
| [[Janata Dal (United)|JD(U)]]
| 278 days
| 278 days
|-
! data-sort-value="18" | 18
| [[Satyendra Narayan Sinha]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| 270 days
| 270 days
|-
! data-sort-value="19" | 19
| [[Harihar Singh]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| 117 days
| 117 days
|-
! data-sort-value="20" | 20
| [[Bhola Paswan Shastri]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| 99 days
| 112 days
|-
! data-sort-value="21" | 21
| [[Bindheshwari Prasad Mandal]]
| style="background-color: #784C04" |
| [[Samyukta Socialist Party|SSP]]
| 51 days
| 51 days
|-
! data-sort-value="22" | 22
| [[Deep Narayan Singh]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| 17 days
| 17 days
|-
! data-sort-value="23" | 23
| [[Satish Prasad Singh]]
| style="background-color: #784C04" |
| [[Samyukta Socialist Party|SSP]]
| 5 days
| 5 days
|}

==See also==
* [[Bihar]] 
* [[List of governors of Bihar]]
* [[List of deputy chief ministers of Bihar]]

==References==
===Notes===
{{notelist}}
One of the achievements of the Bihar Government is that they have launched a Medhasoft Application for the students so that deserving students in the state get scholarships and the amount will be directly transferred to their account. However, in order to get this, school authorities have to upload all their student's details in the Medhasoft web portal.

===Citations===
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="term1">[[Durga Das Basu]]. ''Introduction to the Constitution of India''. 1960. 20th Edition, 2011 Reprint. pp. 241, 245. LexisNexis Butterworths Wadhwa Nagpur. {{ISBN|978-81-8038-559-9}}. Note: although the text talks about Indian state governments in general, it applies for the specific case of Karnataka as well.</ref>

}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Chief ministers of Bihar}}

{{Chief Ministers of Bihar}}
{{Government of Bihar}}
{{Chief_Ministers of Indian States}}

[[Category:Chief ministers of Bihar| ]]
[[Category:Lists of chief ministers of Indian states|Bihar]]
[[Category:Government of Bihar]]
[[Category:Bihar-related lists|Chief Ministers]]
[[Category:Lists of government ministers of Bihar]]