Who is Samrat Chaudhary? BJP leader who replaced Nitish Kumar to become Bihar new Chief Minister

New Delhi: In a historic political shift, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has named Samrat Chaudhary as the next Chief Minister of Bihar, marking the first time the party will lead the state government.

Choudhary’s elevation comes shortly after the resignation of outgoing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who stepped down earlier in the day, bringing an end to his tenure amid shifting political alignments.

BREAKING: Samrat Choudhary becomes new Bihar Chief Minister

A Strong OBC Leader in Bihar

Samrat Chaudhary was serving as Bihar’s deputy chief minister and also handled the home department. He was seen as an important OBC (Other Backward Classes) leader for the BJP. The party is trying to expand its support beyond its traditional upper-caste base and Chaudhary plays a key role in that strategy. His rise in the BJP has been quick, especially over the past seven years.

Earlier this year, he was chosen as the leader of the BJP legislature party and became deputy chief minister in the NDA government led by Nitish Kumar.

Political Journey Across Parties

Chaudhary’s political career has seen several changes. He started his journey with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) under Rabri Devi and stayed with the party even after it lost power in 2005.

In 2014, he joined a rebel faction and later became part of the JD(U) government led by Jitan Ram Manjhi after Nitish Kumar stepped down. He eventually left the JD(U) and joined the BJP in 2017, where his political career took a sharp upward turn.

Rapid Rise in the BJP

After joining the BJP, Chaudhary quickly gained importance in the party. He was made state vice-president and later became a member of the legislative council. Following the NDA’s win in the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, he was made a minister in Nitish Kumar’s government.

In March last year, he was appointed president of the BJP’s Bihar unit, replacing Sanjay Jaiswal.

A Vocal Critic of Nitish Kumar

Chaudhary has often spoken out against Nitish Kumar, especially after the JD(U) ended its alliance with the BJP. During that period, he made a symbolic protest by wearing a turban and saying he would remove it only when the BJP returned to power in Bihar.

End Of An Era: Nitish Kumar submits his resignation to governor as Bihar chief minister

Support and Concerns Within the Party

Choudhary began his political career in 1999 when he was inducted as Agriculture Minister in the Rabri Devi-led government of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, despite not being a member of either House of the state legislature at the time. However, his appointment soon sparked controversy over questions surrounding his age, ultimately leading to his resignation.

While many BJP leaders see him as a strong candidate, some have raised concerns about his past links with rival parties like the RJD and JD(U).

His political journey has also been marked by the shadow of the 1995 Tarapur case, which involved the killing of Congress candidate Sachchidanand Singh and his associates in a grenade attack during the Assembly elections.