While the party is currently enjoying its best phase under Kumar-sharing power both at the Centre and in the state-the question of future leadership will soon be on its agenda, if it is not already.
The year 2025 proved to be one of the most successful years for the JDU. In the 2020 Assembly election, the party’s position had slipped and it could win only 45 seats, and for the first time, the BJP became the senior partner in the alliance. Although the BJP continued with Kumar as the chief minister, it stationed two of its own leaders as deputy chief ministers.
ALSO READ: Click here to check the biggest stories of 2025
In 2022, the JDU drifted from the NDA and joined the Opposition RJD, Congress and Left parties with Nitish Kumar as the chief minister and Tejashwi Yadav as deputy CM.
However, in January 2024, it returned to the NDA, and since then it has been a success rally for the JDU and Nitish Kumar. The JDU’s importance within the NDA increased after the general election, which saw the BJP getting only 240 seats.
ALSO READ: 2025 in the rearview: A year of tumult and triumph
At present, there are two ministers in the Union cabinet from the JDU and Bihar has received several projects in the two consecutive Union budgets.
In the recent Assembly polls, the JDU won 85 seats, improving its tally from 45 seats in 2020 to become the second largest party after the BJP, which won 89 seats.
Meanwhile, the BJP has adopted a “different strokes for different folks” strategy to deal with allies in the states.
Unlike Maharashtra, where the party pushed Devendra Fadnavis for the chief minister’s post – taking it away from Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde – in Bihar, it continued with the earlier arrangement, where Kumar was the chief minister and the leader of the alliance.
However, for the first time, the BJP negotiated to take the home ministry in the cabinet, which was with Kumar ever since he became the chief minister. Despite that, the JDU has been able to maintain a strong coordination in the government with even smaller allies like LJP(R) of Chirag Paswan, HAM of Jitan Ram Manjhi, and RLM of Upendra Kushwaha.
Over the last two years, the alliance between the BJP and JDU has been at its best, with the JDU wholeheartedly supporting the BJP in parliament on crucial Bills, like the one on Waqf Board, despite a section of the party raising questions on the Bill.
Under the leadership of JDU working president Sanjay Jha, the two parties have been successful in ironing out policy and ideological shifts, with the JDU negotiating more on getting additional funds for Bihar.
Kumar, the leader
Having been in power for two decades, several questions have been raised about Kumar’s leadership. His health issues were continuously highlighted by the Opposition parties. 2025 was the year which silenced his critics. Kumar’s popularity among women has yielded several electoral benefits for him in the past, and 2025 offered the best example. The announcement of Rs 10,000 for women to start business tilted women voters in his favour and helped give the NDA a historic win. During the election, Kumar defied all health-related questions with extensive campaigning across the state. When there were no helicopters taking off due to bad weather, Kumar covered 10 to 12 Assembly constituencies by road in a day. After being named the chief minister for the eighth time, Kumar has been active as ever. From regular meetings to taking stock of government projects to traveling to different parts of the state to review the progress, his visibility has increased.
The Year Ahead
The JDU has managed to remain a dominant partner in the alliance in Bihar despite accommodating three smaller allies, and this is expected to continue next year too. With the home ministry under the BJP, questions related to law and order will be directed towards Samrat Choudhary, the deputy CM holding the home portfolio. This has given a breather to the party, which can keep highlighting the development work done under Kumar. Bihar has been receiving special attention from the central government in terms of new projects and monetary help and the JDU can take credit for this. On national issues, the party is in sync with the BJP -the latest example being its support for the special intensive revision (SIR) being conducted nationwide by the Election Commission. In April this year, there would be five Rajya Sabha vacancies from Bihar, which includes two from the JDU. The JDU is likely to retain the two seats.
In the next cabinet reshuffle at the Centre, the party would also negotiate to get more representation.
The leadership question
On March 1 next year, Kumar will turn 75. While he enjoys the popular support of the people and will continue to lead the state, the question of the next party head will take centerstage. His close lieutenants, like Sanjay Jha, Lalan Singh and Vijay Choudhary, are managing the fort for him. However, the JDU will need someone who can be the face of the party with the blessings of Kumar.
Kumar is the undisputed leader of the party who garners huge support and sympathy from the people, especially women voters. While working closely with the BJP, the JDU needs to keep its identity and existence as an equal partner. There has been a demand from a section of the JDU to promote his son, Nishant Kumar, as the next leader. But nothing will move until Nitish Kumar gets ready for the transition, and such a decision, as JDU leaders say, would only be taken by Kumar. The challenge before the JDU is to find a leader who can match the aura and magic of Kumar.
