Samrat Choudhary Sworn In as Bihar Chief Minister, Marking Shift in State Politics

Kathmandu. A new leadership has emerged in the Indian state of Bihar. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Samrat Choudhary took the oath of office as the Chief Minister of Bihar on Wednesday.

His appointment is being analyzed as the beginning of the end for the era of Nitish Kumar, who has long dominated state politics. The 57-year-old Choudhary was sworn in by Governor Syed Ata Hasnain. He is the first Chief Minister of Bihar from the BJP leadership.

Samrat Choudhary's political journey is considered intriguing. He began his political career in the 1990s with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) before joining the BJP in 2018.

In 2023, he was appointed as the BJP Bihar state president, and in 2024, he was given the responsibility of Deputy Chief Minister. Since then, he has ascended to the state's top leadership.

Born in 1968, Choudhary comes from an influential political family. His father, Shakuni Choudhary, was elected as a legislator from the Tarapur constituency six times, while his mother, Parvati Devi, also won elections from the same region.

Once a staunch critic of Nitish Kumar, Choudhary appeared in a new role after the BJP-JDU alliance was reformed in 2024. He had publicly vowed to remove his 'Muretha' (turban) only after ousting Nitish from power, which highlights his aggressive political style.

His rise is viewed not just as a change in power but as a socio-political strategic move. Analysts suggest his leadership is linked to the goal of expanding influence among the OBC community, particularly the Koeri-Kushwaha group.