Five Times in 25 Years When Nitish Kumar Lost His Cool From the ‘Son-in-Law’ Remark to Media Row

Known for his calm demeanour and restrained public conduct, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has rarely displayed anger in public. However, over the past 25 years, there have been at least five notable occasions when the veteran leader appeared visibly upset — mostly over media reports and political interpretations of his statements.

One such moment has resurfaced in public memory after a 2003 video from Parliament went viral on social media.

At the time, Nitish Kumar was not the Chief Minister of Bihar but the Union Railway Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. On December 15, 2003, he expressed strong displeasure on the floor of the Lok Sabha over what he termed an “incorrect and irresponsible newspaper report.”

Visibly angry, Kumar told Parliament that a newspaper had claimed someone had visited the Railways claiming to be his son-in-law.
“I do not even have a daughter. How can I have a son-in-law? Someone became my son-in-law just like that,” he said, questioning journalistic credibility. His sharp tone and expression made it one of the rare instances when the soft-spoken leader publicly lost his composure.

Rift With Party Leaders and Media Coverage

Another major episode occurred in January 2021, when Janata Dal (United) leader Pawan Varma, then the party’s national general secretary, opposed the party’s electoral understanding with the BJP in the Delhi Assembly elections.

Varma wrote a strongly worded letter to Nitish Kumar, criticising the alliance at a time when nationwide protests were underway against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and NPR. The letter, which recalled Nitish Kumar’s own past criticism of the BJP leadership, received extensive media coverage across the country.

The wide publicity given to Varma’s dissent deeply displeased Nitish Kumar.

During a function marking Karpoori Thakur’s birth anniversary on January 24, 2020, the Chief Minister openly expressed his displeasure. Folding his hands before journalists, he remarked that the media gives excessive importance to people “who only talk,” while ignoring developmental work on the ground. He made it clear that he would not respond to Varma’s questions or engage in any political debate on the issue.

Appeal to Media: “Think About Bihar”

At the same event, Nitish Kumar urged journalists to focus on Bihar’s development rather than internal party disputes.
“Please think about the state — what work is being done and what impact it is having,” he appealed, once again highlighting his discomfort with political sensationalism.

2023 Remark That Sparked Another Storm

In October 2023, when Nitish Kumar was heading the government with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), another controversy erupted.

At a convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari, attended by President Droupadi Murmu, Kumar made a remark recalling his long association with BJP leaders. Gesturing toward them, he said that his relationship with them would remain “till his last breath” and that cooperation was essential for development.

The statement instantly became breaking news, triggering speculation that Nitish Kumar might once again return to the BJP-led alliance.

Angered by the interpretation, the Chief Minister reacted sharply two days later.
“What nonsense is being printed,” he said. “Now I will not speak to the media anymore. What we say is not published, and what we don’t say becomes headlines.”

He even alleged that the media had been “taken over,” marking one of his strongest public attacks on the press.

A Pattern of Friction

From Parliament to party politics, and from alliance speculation to media interpretation, these episodes underline a recurring pattern — Nitish Kumar’s intolerance for misrepresentation, especially when it concerns personal matters or political intent.

Despite decades in public life, such moments remain rare — which is precisely why, whenever they occur, they draw widespread attention.

As Bihar continues to navigate shifting political alignments, these past flashpoints once again highlight the complex and often tense relationship between power, perception, and the press.