Samrat Choudhary is set to become the next Chief Minister of Bihar after veteran leader Nitish Kumar stepped down from the post on Tuesday. The development marks a major turning point in Bihar politics, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prepares to have its first chief minister in the state.
Earlier in the day, Nitish Kumar met Governor Syed Ata Hasnain and submitted his resignation following a cabinet meeting. Kumar, who has served multiple terms and is widely regarded as the longest-serving chief minister of Bihar, said the decision was taken after careful consideration. He recently became a member of the Rajya Sabha, which signaled a shift toward a national political role.
Speaking to the media after stepping down, Kumar said he had done significant work for the people of Bihar during his tenure and would continue to support the new government. He also assured that the incoming leadership would have his full cooperation and guidance in running the state.
Soon after the resignation, the BJP held a meeting of its legislators to decide the next leader of the party in the state assembly. The meeting took place in the presence of Union minister and BJP central observer Shivraj Singh Chouhan. During the meeting, all BJP MLAs unanimously elected Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary as the leader of the BJP legislature party.
This decision effectively clears the path for Samrat Choudhary to take over as the next Chief Minister of Bihar. Chouhan confirmed after the meeting that the decision was unanimous and reflected the party’s confidence in Choudhary’s leadership.
Samrat Choudhary currently represents the Tarapur constituency and has been serving as the Deputy Chief Minister in the NDA government. Known for his strong organizational skills and influence within the party, he has emerged as one of the prominent faces of the BJP in Bihar politics.
The BJP holds 89 seats in the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly, making it the single largest party in the state. With the support of its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the party has the numbers required to form the government under Choudhary’s leadership.
Political observers see this transition as a significant shift in Bihar’s political landscape. For nearly two decades, Nitish Kumar remained the central figure in the state’s politics, leading different coalition governments and shaping the administrative direction of Bihar. His exit from the chief minister’s post opens a new chapter in the state’s governance.
Samrat Choudhary is now expected to meet the Governor and formally stake claim to form the government after being elected as the NDA legislature party leader. Once the process is completed, he is likely to take the oath as the new Chief Minister in the coming days.
The leadership change also reflects the growing influence of the BJP in Bihar. While the party has been part of several coalition governments in the state, this will mark the first time it leads the government with its own chief minister.
As Bihar prepares for this political transition, all eyes are now on Samrat Choudhary and the priorities his government will set for the state in the coming months.