THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Patna, April 14: BJP leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is set to become the next Chief Minister, marking the end of Nitish Kumar’s long tenure and the beginning of the BJP’s first leadership of the state government.
Choudhary is likely to take oath on April 15 at Lok Bhawan as part of a cabinet reshuffle, following Nitish Kumar’s decision to step down and move to the Rajya Sabha.
Consensus within BJP
Choudhary’s name quickly emerged as the frontrunner after Kumar’s exit. At a BJP Legislature Party meeting, Deputy CM Vijay Sinha and senior leaders Mangal Pandey, Dilip Jaiswal, and Renu Devi proposed his name as leader. The proposal was endorsed by central observer and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Expressing gratitude, Choudhary said the role was a “sacred opportunity” to serve Bihar and pledged to work with dedication, commitment, and integrity. He also promised to take the state to new heights of development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party leadership.
Political journey
A veteran politician with over three decades of experience, Choudhary began his career in 1999 as Agriculture Minister in an RJD-led government. He later joined JD(U) in 2014, serving as Urban Development Minister, before moving to the BJP in 2018.
He rose quickly within the party, becoming state president in 2023 and playing a key role in the BJP’s strong performance in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. Known as a prominent OBC leader, he has significant influence among Kushwaha/Koeri voters in the state.
Choudhary is also the son of veteran politician Shakuni Choudhary, a founding member of the Samata Party.