Samrat Choudhary took oath as the 21st Chief Minister of Bihar, ending Nitish Kumar’s long reign and marking a major political shift in the state.
Governor Syed Ata Hasnain administered the oath at Raj Bhavan in Patna. Senior BJP leaders and alliance partners attended the ceremony, underscoring the party’s direct control over the Bihar government. Nitish Kumar resigned on Tuesday after dissolving his Cabinet, paving the way for Choudhary’s elevation.
Choudhary served as Deputy Chief Minister and held the home portfolio in the outgoing government. His rise within the BJP began in 2017, and he was elected leader of the BJP legislative party on Tuesday. His appointment reflects both political strategy and caste dynamics in Bihar.
Choudhary belongs to the influential Koeri community, becoming only the second leader from this group to hold the Chief Minister’s post. The first, Satish Prasad Singh, served briefly in 1968. Choudhary also joins Bharat Ratna awardee Karpoori Thakur in the rare category of leaders who held both deputy chief minister and chief minister positions.
Unlike Thakur, who waited nearly two years to assume the top post, Choudhary’s rise came swiftly. His leadership signals a new phase in Bihar politics, with the BJP steering governance directly rather than through coalition arrangements.
