Who is Samrat Choudhary? BJP’s likely first CM in Bihar and his political journey
Samrat Choudhary profile: With Nitish Kumar set to move to the Rajya Sabha, Bihar is poised for a major political shift as Samrat Choudhary is likely to take over as the state’s next Chief Minister. While the formal announcement is expected later in the evening, sources indicate that Choudhary may take oath on April 15.
If confirmed, this would mark the first time that the Bharatiya Janata Party gets a Chief Minister in Bihar.
Born on November 16, 1968, in a politically influential family in Munger district, Choudhary has been active in politics for over three decades. He began his career with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and served as a minister during the tenure of Rabri Devi.
He joined the BJP in 2018, and his political graph has risen steadily since. After Sushil Kumar Modi was shifted to Delhi following the 2020 elections, Choudhary gained prominence within the party.
Choudhary’s ascent within the BJP has been swift. He served as deputy to state president Nityanand Rai in 2019, became Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, and was later appointed BJP’s Bihar state president in 2023.
Following Nitish Kumar’s return to the NDA in early 2024, Choudhary was chosen as the BJP legislative party leader and subsequently became Deputy Chief Minister. He retained his position even after the 2025 Assembly elections.
Choudhary, who belongs to the Kushwaha (Koeri) community, fits into the ‘Luv-Kush’ political equation historically associated with Nitish Kumar, a Kurmi leader. This caste dynamic is seen as a key factor behind his emergence as a consensus candidate within the NDA.
Interestingly, Choudhary was once a vocal critic of Nitish Kumar during the Mahagathbandhan phase and served as a strong opposition voice. However, political realignments saw the two leaders join hands again under the NDA, strengthening Choudhary’s position in Bihar politics.
Despite his rise, Samrat Choudhary has faced criticism over alleged discrepancies related to his educational qualifications, an issue raised by political strategist Prashant Kishor during election campaigns. However, the matter did not significantly impact his political career.
- With inputs from agencies
