Samrat Choudhary takes the oath in the presence of Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain during his swearing-in ceremony as the new Chief Minister. Photo: PTI
BJP's Samrat Choudhary sworn in as Bihar chief minister
The Kushwaha community leader's rise from RJD loyalist to Deputy CM caps a decade-long political journey — and marks BJP's shift from coalition partner to sole power centre in Bihar
BJP leader Samrat Choudhary was sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister on Wednesday (April 15), becoming the first member of the saffron party to hold the post in the state.
Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) administered the oath of office and secrecy at the Lok Bhawan in Patna. JD(U)'s Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav were simultaneously inducted as members of the Council of Ministers.
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NDA's top brass turned up
The ceremony drew the ruling alliance's heavyweights, including Union Ministers J P Nadda, Chirag Paswan and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, alongside all NDA MLAs. The ruling coalition in Bihar comprises the BJP, JD(U) and three other parties. Nitish Kumar, who dissolved his cabinet on April 14 and now moves to the Rajya Sabha, was also present--marking a symbolic passing of the baton he had held for nearly two decades.
Named leader just a day before
Choudhary was named the BJP's legislative party leader on April 14 in the presence of state party chief Nitin Nabin and Chouhan, who had been designated central observer for the transition by the parliamentary board. Until his elevation, he served as Deputy Chief Minister and held the crucial home portfolio under Nitish Kumar, a role in which he earned a reputation for an assertive law-and-order approach.
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The man behind the moment
Born into a political family in Munger district, his father Shakuni Choudhary was a seven-time MLA and MP, Samrat began his career under Lalu Prasad before eventually joining the BJP in 2017. Belonging to the Kushwaha community, he is seen as a key OBC face for the party in Bihar, and his rise is widely read as the BJP's move to consolidate non-Yadav OBC support as it transitions from coalition dependency to direct leadership in the state.