Patna: Senior BJP leader Samrat Chaudhary was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar on Wednesday, following the resignation of former CM Nitish Kumar. The oath of office was administered by Governor Syed Ata Hasnain at a formal ceremony in Patna.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) announced Chaudhary’s name shortly after Nitish Kumar stepped down from the top post. He was unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP legislature party during a meeting held at the party headquarters in Patna.

Born on November 16, 1968, in Munger district, Samrat Chaudhary comes from a strong political background. His father, Shakuni Chaudhary, served as a six-time MLA from the Tarapur constituency, while his mother, Parvati Devi, also represented the same seat after winning in 1998 on a Samata Party ticket. The family has had a significant electoral presence, winning nine out of the last twelve elections in the constituency.

Chaudhary entered politics in 1990 and gradually rose through the ranks. During the tenure of Rabri Devi’s government, he served as the Agriculture Minister when the BJP was part of the alliance. Over the years, he has held several key portfolios, including Sports, Finance, Panchayati Raj, Urban Development, and Housing.

He also served as the Bihar BJP state president from March 2023 to July 2024 and played a crucial role in strengthening the party’s organizational structure in the state.

Belonging to the Kushwaha community, which constitutes approximately 4.3Percent of Bihar’s population, Chaudhary represents one of the largest Other Backward Class (OBC) groups in the state after the Yadav community.

With administrative experience and strong political backing, his appointment marks a significant shift in Bihar’s political landscape.