PATNA, Apr 15: In a significant political shift in Bihar, senior BJP leader Samrat Choudhary was sworn in as the Chief Minister on Wednesday, marking the first time a leader from the saffron party has taken charge of the state’s top post.
The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Governor Syed Ata Hasnain at a formal ceremony held at Lok Bhawan in Patna. Alongside Choudhary, JD(U) leaders Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav were sworn in as members of the Council of Ministers.
Both JD(U) leaders have been prominent figures in previous administrations led by Nitish Kumar and are considered key allies within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Their inclusion signals continuity within the coalition even as leadership changes hands.
Sources within the NDA indicated that the current मंत्रिमंडल (Council of Ministers) is likely to be expanded in the coming days to accommodate representatives from other alliance partners. The NDA in Bihar includes the BJP, JD(U), and several smaller regional parties.
The swearing-in ceremony witnessed the presence of top political figures, including Union Ministers J. P. Nadda and Chirag Paswan, along with senior NDA leaders and legislators. Former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who recently stepped down and is now a Rajya Sabha MP, also attended the event.
Choudhary, who joined the BJP in 2017, was serving as Deputy Chief Minister and held the crucial Home portfolio in the previous government. He was elected as the BJP legislative party leader a day earlier in the presence of senior leaders, including Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was appointed as the central observer for the leadership transition.
Meanwhile, Vijay Kumar Choudhary brings decades of legislative experience, having been a member of the Bihar Assembly since 1982 and previously serving as Speaker. Bijendra Prasad Yadav, a veteran leader from Supaul, has held key responsibilities, including overseeing the power department in earlier governments.
The development marks a new phase in Bihar politics, with the BJP taking a more prominent leadership role while maintaining coalition balance within the NDA framework.