BJP's Samrat Choudhary takes oath as new Bihar CM

Samrat Choudhary's elevation as Bihar's Chief Minister, replacing Nitish Kumar, marks a major political shift with the BJP taking direct control of the state government.

In Short

• Samrat Choudhary ends Nitish Kumar's long tenure as CM
• BJP leader sworn in as 21st Chief Minister of Bihar
• Development ushers in state's first BJP-led government

Senior BJP leader Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday took oath as the 21st Chief Minister of Bihar, marking a decisive political reset in the state by installing the BJP’s first-ever government and bringing the curtain down on Nitish Kumar’s two-decade-long dominance over the Hindi heartland state.

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.

JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar, now a Rajya Sabha MP, stepped down as Chief Minister on Tuesday after dissolving his Cabinet. In the outgoing government, Choudhary had served as Deputy Chief Minister and held the crucial home portfolio, positioning him as a key figure in the administration.

Choudhary, who joined the BJP in 2017, was elected leader of the party’s legislative wing on Tuesday. The BJP is the single largest party in the 243-member Assembly, with 89 MLAs.

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. The first was Satish Prasad Singh, whose tenure in 1968 lasted just five days after his coalition government collapsed following the Congress withdrawing support.

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.

The 57-year-old leader's rise comes full circle nearly three decades after his brief, controversial debut as a minister, cut short by eligibility questions. 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.

His 2017 switch to the BJP transformed his trajectory. Backed by his Koeri OBC base, he rose swiftly, from state vice president to party chief, emerging as a key face in Bihar politics.

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. His electoral win from Tarapur and backing from Amit Shah further cemented his stature in the Hindi heartland, where the saffron party had so far not been able to head a government.

END OF NITISH KUMAR ERA IN BIHAR

Nitish Kumar’s resignation marks the end of a defining era in Bihar politics, drawing the curtain on nearly two decades during which he remained the state’s central figure despite shifting alliances. A ten-time Chief Minister since first taking office in 2005, the 75-year-old stepped down on April 14, paving the way for the BJP to assume leadership.

Known as “Sushasan Babu,” Kumar cultivated a strong support base among Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) and other marginalised groups, while advancing governance reforms and populist welfare initiatives.

His tenure was also marked by frequent political realignments between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, earning him praise for pragmatism as well as criticism for opportunism. His slogan “Nyay ke saath vikas” reflected an attempt to balance development with social justice and communal harmony, even as he often relied on the BJP to remain in power.

As a Union minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Kumar earned a reputation as an effective administrator, particularly for his role in railway modernisation. His early years as Chief Minister, beginning in 2005, were widely credited with improving law and order and reshaping Bihar’s image.

However, the latter part of his political career was defined by repeated alliance shifts. Once a key architect of the opposition’s INDIA bloc, the JD(U) leader later faced accusations of capitulating to the BJP.

Despite the political flux, Kumar remained indispensable in Bihar’s power matrix, backed by a loyal social coalition of Kurmis, EBCs, Maha Dalits and the backward.

- Ends
With inputs from Shashi Bhushan