BJP leader Samrat Choudhary swears in as Bihar 21st Chief Minister on Wednesday. The ceremony, held at Raj Bhavan and presided over by Governor Syed Ata Hasnain, signals a historic turning point as it marks the first time the Bharatiya Janata Party has led a government in the state. His ascent effectively concludes the nearly twenty-year dominance of Nitish Kumar, who resigned on Tuesday to transition into a new role as a Rajya Sabha MP.
Choudhary’s rise to the top post is the culmination of a rapid political trajectory. Having served as Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister in the outgoing administration, the 57-year-old was elected leader of the BJP’s legislative wing earlier this week. His appointment carries significant social weight; he is only the second leader from the Koeri community to serve as Chief Minister, following the remarkably brief five-day tenure of Satish Prasad Singh in 1968.
The new Chief Minister’s journey has been anything but linear. He first entered the political limelight in 1999 as a minister in Rabri Devi’s cabinet, though that stint was famously cut short following a dispute over his age and eligibility. He went from becoming a chief whip of the RJD to having a stint as an ally of Jitan Ram Manjhi, before finally allying himself with the BJP in 2017. This step would change his life, as he now had the ability to build up an influential base of OBC support within the BJP.
Interestingly, Choudhary was once one of Nitish Kumar’s most vocal critics, famously vowing to keep his trademark turban tied until he had unseated the veteran leader. That symbolic promise has now reached its conclusion. While he eventually became a key ally to Kumar within the NDA, his elevation to the premiership represents the BJP finally stepping out from the shadow of its long-term partner to take the reins of the Hindi heartland state directly.
With the exit of Nitish Kumar, popularly known as “Sushasan Babu,” owing to his emphasis on governance, there comes a period of closure. Since 2005, Nitish Kumar has been the pivotal center of political power in the state of Bihar, successfully dealing with a tangle of political equations with both NDA and Mahagathbandhan. Though critics often pointed to his frequent political realignments, his supporters credit him with transforming Bihar’s infrastructure and improving law and order. As the 75-year-old veteran makes his exit from the state’s top office, the focus now shifts to whether Choudhary can maintain the delicate social coalition that has defined Bihar’s voting patterns for a generation.
Also read: Samrat Choudhary set to be new Bihar CM
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