Patna : Senior BJP leader Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday took oath as the 21st Chief Minister of Bihar. Choudhary was administered the oath of office by the Governor Syed Ata Hasnain at a ceremony in Raj Bhavan, attended by top BJP leaders and alliance partners. JDU supremo Nitish Kumar, now a Rajya Sabha MP, stepped down as Chief Minister on Tuesday after dissolving his Cabinet.
Choudhary, who joined the BJP in 2017, was elected leader of the BJP legislative party on Tuesday. His elevation also carries caste significance in Bihar’s complex political landscape. Choudhary becomes only the second leader from the influential Koeri community to occupy the Chief Minister’s post. Choudhary also joins the ranks of Bharat Ratna awardee Karpoori Thakur as one of the few leaders in Bihar to have held both the posts of deputy chief minister and chief minister.
He first entered the spotlight in 1999 when RJD’s Rabri Devi inducted him into her cabinet, seen as a political reward after his parents switched from the Samata Party to the RJD. But his stint ended abruptly after a complaint flagged his age, prompting Governor Suraj Bhan to remove him. He returned quickly, winning in 2000 and completing a full term, later rising to become RJD chief whip. A break from the party in 2014 saw him briefly serve under Jitan Ram Manjhi before exiting when Nitish Kumar returned.
Once a staunch critic of Nitish Kumar, Choudhary later became a trusted ally in the NDA. Analysts point out that his symbolic vow to remove his trademark turban only after unseating Nitish Kumar now marks a political turning point. Appointed Deputy Chief Minister in 2024, he consolidated power quickly, taking over the crucial Home portfolio.
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