BJP's Samrat Choudhary sworn in as Bihar chief minister

In a significant political shift, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Samrat Choudhary was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar on Wednesday, becoming the first leader from the saffron party to hold the state’s top post.Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) administered the oath of office and secrecy to Choudhry. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Samrat Chaudhary took oath as Bihar Chief Minister on Wednesday. Chaudhary arrived at the Governor’s residence, Bihar Lok Bhavan earlier in the morning to be sworn in as CM, succeeding Nitish Kumar, who had served as leader of the state for over a decade before deciding to go to the Rajya Sabha.

STORY | BJP's Samrat Choudhary sworn in as Bihar chief minister

BJP leader Samrat Choudhary was sworn in as the chief minister of Bihar on Wednesday, the first from the saffron party to hold the post. Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) administered the oath of office and… pic.twitter.com/fJdO5Dx6c6

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 15, 2026

At 57, Choudhary steps into the role with considerable expectations, succeeding Nitish Kumar, whose tenure defined Bihar politics for over a decade under the banner of “Sushasan” (good governance). His elevation marks a new phase for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state.Choudhary’s political journey reflects a steady rise through Bihar’s complex political landscape. Beginning his career in the 1990s with the Rashtriya Janata Dal, he later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2018, where he quickly rose through the ranks. He was appointed BJP’s state president in 2023 and went on to serve as Deputy Chief Minister in 2024.
Coming from a politically active family, Choudhary is the son of Shakuni Choudhary, a six-time MLA from Tarapur, while his mother, Parvati Devi, also represented the constituency in 1998.Known for his assertive political stance, Choudhary was once among the fiercest critics of Nitish Kumar. In 2022, he had publicly vowed not to remove his traditional saffron turban (muretha) until Kumar was unseated from power—a symbolic gesture that gained widespread attention in state politics.His appointment follows the NDA’s successful retention of power in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, after which speculation grew over Nitish Kumar’s transition to national politics. Choudhary, with strong support among Other Backward Classes (OBCs), particularly the Koeri/Kushwaha community, emerged as the frontrunner for the top post.
Earlier in the day, Union Minister Chirag Paswan met Choudhary to extend his congratulations. In a message shared on social media, Paswan expressed confidence that Bihar would achieve new heights of development and governance under Choudhary’s leadership.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan tweets - "Today, I met with my brother Samrat Chaudhary before he took the oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar in Patna and congratulated him on being elected as the leader of the NDA legislature party, extending my best wishes. I am fully confident… pic.twitter.com/7nxG1vlGUi

— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2026