Formal entry into politics:
A young Nitish Kumar joined active politics in 1974 under inspiration from the fiery Jayprakash narayan. Nitish played an important role in JP movement. Nitish Kumar had to face intial failures in politics as he had to face defeat in assembly elections of 1980.
Nitish tasted first electoral success in 1985 when he won as an independent candidate in assembly elections. For Nitish Kumar, there was looking back here onwards.
Nitish got active in national politics in 1989. He was made general secretary of Janta Dal, a party that was formed under V P Singh's leadership to challenge the hegemony of Congress party. Nitish was elected to the ninth Lok Sabha from Barh constituency in 1989. Nitish was made agriculture minister in V P Singh's government. Nitish represented Barh Lok Sabha constituency from 1989 to 1994 and was part of different governments at the centre.
Assembly elections of 2000 threw a fractured mandate and Nitish got the opportunity to take over as the Chief Minister. But he had to resign within 7 days as he failed to muster the required support in assembly.
But it was in 2001 when Nitish Kumar emerged as a competent minister and a leader of stature. As Railway Minister, he came across as a no-nonsense and competent minister.
