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In a historic political shift, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has named Samrat Chaudhary as the next Chief Minister of Bihar, marking the first time
the party will lead the state government. The swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place on Wednesday in Patna. The development follows the resignation of long-time Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, bringing an end to his extended tenure that defined Bihar politics for nearly two decades. With this move, the BJP transitions from being a key alliance partner to taking direct control of the state’s leadership for the first time.
Samrat Choudhary to succeed Nitish Kumar
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) April 14, 2026
He will take oath as Bihar CM tomorrow
Watch as @Swatij14 shares more details. pic.twitter.com/rB2zygTkDy
A prominent OBC leader and current Deputy Chief Minister, Samrat Chaudhary’s elevation signals the BJP’s strategic push to consolidate its social base in Bihar ahead of upcoming electoral battles. Party leadership finalised his name after internal consultations, with central observers overseeing the transition in Patna.
Preparations are underway for the swearing-in ceremony, expected to be held in the state capital Patna. While the NDA alliance is expected to remain intact, the power dynamic within it has decisively shifted in favour of the BJP. Allies, including JD(U), are likely to retain representation in the new cabinet.
Samrat Chaudhary, who hails from Lakhanpur village near Tarapur in Bihar’s Munger district, began his political career in 1990 as a member of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) led by Lalu Prasad Yadav. He comes from a strong political background. His father, Shakuni Chaudhary, was a prominent regional leader who represented the Tarapur Assembly constituency multiple times, first as an Independent and later as a candidate of the Congress, the Samata Party, and the RJD.
Samrat Chaudhary was first inducted into the government in 1999 as Agriculture Minister in the Rabri Devi-led RJD administration, despite not being a member of either house of the state legislature at the time. His appointment soon became controversial over questions regarding his age, eventually forcing him to resign.
His political journey has also been shadowed by the 1995 Tarapur case, which involved the killing of Congress candidate Sachchidanand Singh and his associates in a grenade attack during the Assembly elections.
