Key Points
- Samrat Choudhary, 57, was sworn in as Bihar’s Chief Minister at Lok Bhawan, Patna, on Wednesday morning
- He is the first BJP leader to become Chief Minister of Bihar, a historic milestone for the party
- Governor Syed Ata Hasnain administered the oath of office at the ceremony
- Nitish Kumar resigned as CM after being elected to the Rajya Sabha, ending his record 10-term tenure
- Choudhary was unanimously elected leader of the NDA legislature party, which holds 202 of 243 assembly seats
- The new cabinet will include two Deputy Chief Ministers: Nishant Kumar and Vijay Chaudhary
In a ceremony that rewrote Bihar’s political history, BJP leader Samrat Choudhary was sworn in as Bihar’s Chief Minister on Wednesday at Lok Bhawan in Patna, with Governor Syed Ata Hasnain administering the oath of office. The moment carried unmistakable weight, marking the first time a leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party has taken the Chief Minister’s post in Bihar, a state where the party had long been a crucial but junior force in coalition politics.
The End of the Nitish Era
Choudhary replaces Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who tendered his resignation to Governor Syed Ata Hasnain on Tuesday after holding the post for nearly two decades. Kumar, who was sworn in for a record 10th time in November 2025 after the NDA registered a landmark victory in the assembly elections, had recently taken his seat as a Rajya Sabha MP before stepping down. His departure signals the close of an era defined by his brand of “Sushasan,” or good governance, that had shaped Bihar’s administrative identity for a generation.
The Road to Lok Bhawan
Choudhary was unanimously elected as leader of the NDA legislative party on Tuesday, with Union Minister Nityanand Rai confirming the decision after a meeting attended by all alliance MLAs. Senior leader Vijay Kumar Sinha proposed Choudhary’s name as the BJP’s legislative party leader, backed by MLAs Renu Devi, Mangal Pandey, and others, before Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan formally announced his unanimous election. The NDA holds 202 seats in the 243-member Bihar assembly, giving the coalition a commanding position.
Earlier this week, Choudhary had met Governor Hasnain at Lok Bhawan to formally stake his claim to form the government. The new administration will feature two Deputy Chief Ministers: Nishant Kumar and Vijay Chaudhary.
Who Is Samrat Choudhary?
Born on November 16, 1968, Choudhary first entered electoral politics in 1990. He became an MLA from the Parbatta constituency in 2000 under the RJD and again in 2010, later joining the JD(U) and serving in the Jitan Ram Manjhi ministry. He joined the BJP in 2018, rising to become state president in March 2023, before being appointed Deputy Chief Minister in 2024.
Party strategist Amit Shah had famously hinted at Choudhary’s future during the 2025 Bihar polls while campaigning in Tarapur, telling voters that “Samrat will one day be a big man.” His political positioning has long focused on caste dynamics in Bihar, particularly among Other Backward Classes, a key electoral group in the state. He is a prominent OBC leader representing the powerful Koeri-Kushwaha community, and his strong caste connections, combined with an outspoken and combative political approach, positioned him as a key figure in the BJP’s efforts to broaden its base in the state.
Choudhary’s Vision for Bihar
Speaking after he is elected legislative party leader, Choudhary expressed gratitude to the BJP’s central leadership and pledged to govern with integrity. He said, “The vision of Viksit Bharat of PM Modi and that of a prosperous Bihar by Nitish Kumar, together we will make Bihar prosperous and make the country developed.” He described the role as an opportunity to serve the people of Bihar and realize their trust and dreams.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan, who met Choudhary before the ceremony, expressed confidence that under the new Chief Minister’s leadership, Bihar will reach new heights of development, good governance, and prosperity.
A Strategic Shift for the BJP
Analysts say this transition reflects the BJP’s growing political strength and organisational presence in Bihar. The new administration is expected to function as part of the NDA alliance, which includes the Janata Dal (United), even as leadership has formally shifted to the BJP for the first time. Choudhary’s elevation is widely seen as part of a broader national strategy to consolidate the party’s footprint in one of India’s most politically consequential states ahead of future elections.
