Top News

BJP's Samrat Choudhary named new Bihar chief minister
14 Apr 2026

Samrat Choudhary of the BJP has been named the new Chief Minister of Bihar.

The announcement came after Nitish Kumar, a stalwart in Bihar's politics, resigned as the Chief Minister after 20 years, paving the way for a BJP-led government in Bihar for the first time.

Choudhary is likely to take oath as the new CM on Wednesday.

1st BJP CM
1st time

This will be the first time the BJP will have its own chief minister in Bihar.

After the 2025 assembly elections, the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the 243-member assembly with 89 MLAs.

Other parties in the NDA, which has a strength of 202 members, include JD(U), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.

These are historic moments: Union minister
Minister

BJP's Central Observer for Bihar and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan called it an "emotional moment" as Choudhary was unanimously elected as the Leader of the BJP Legislative Party.

"These are historic moments. Workers who have helped build the organization of the BJP since the Jana Sangh days are seeing their dreams being realized today. Their resolve complete today...I congratulate Samrat Choudhary," he said.

He joined the BJP in 2017
Profile

Before this ascension, he was given the Home portfolio in a major reshuffle following a landslide victory for the NDA in last year's assembly elections.

This change not only reflected the new power equations in the NDA but also signaled Choudhary's emergence as the BJP's face in the state.

He had joined the BJP in 2017.

Started career with RJD
Journey

Choudhary, who comes from Lakhanpur village in Munger, started his political career with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in 1990.

He was first made a minister in the Rabri Devi-led RJD government in 1999 but had to resign over an age controversy.

He later won the Parbatta Assembly seat as an RJD candidate in 2000 and became chief whip of the party by 2010.

Choudhary defected to the JDU in 2014
Defection

In 2014, Choudhary defected to the JDU after a fallout with Lalu Prasad Yadav. He also took 13 RJD MLAs with him to JD(U).

In 2017, he joined the BJP and became its state vice president.

His rise within the party was rapid as he represented the Koeri community, an influential OBC voting bloc in Bihar that has been aligned with Kumar.