Samrat Choudhary is set to become the new Chief Minister of Bihar after being elected as the BJP legislative party leader during an NDA meeting held in Patna.
The decision was finalised at an NDA meeting in the Central Hall of the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Tuesday evening. An oath-taking ceremony is expected to take place on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Nitish Kumar resigned as Chief Minister after dissolving his Cabinet following its final meeting in Patna, stepping down after nearly two decades in office.
Ahead of the NDA meeting, the BJP Legislature Party convened at the party office to elect its leader, with senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan present as the central observer.
Meanwhile, Bihar BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi confirmed that the meetings were held to finalise leadership and facilitate government formation.
Nitish Kumar has now transitioned to national politics and took oath as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha on April 11. He had earlier resigned as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) on March 30 after being elected to the Upper House on March 16, in accordance with constitutional provisions.
With a 243-member Assembly, Bihar can have a Cabinet of up to 36 ministers. Reports indicate that most existing ministers are likely to continue, with only minor changes expected in the new government.
Despite stepping down, Nitish Kumar is expected to remain an influential figure in Bihar politics. JDU working president Sanjay Kumar Jha said the new government would function under Nitish Kumar’s guidance.
“As far as Bihar is concerned, we contested the 2025–30 mandate under Nitish Kumar’s leadership with the support of the NDA. The Prime Minister campaigned regularly, and the new government will continue Nitish Ji’s policies and work under his guidance. Even if he is not Chief Minister, his focus remains on Bihar, travelling to Delhi only for Parliament sessions,” Jha said.
The transition marks a major shift in Bihar’s political leadership, with Samrat Choudhary set to assume charge as the new Chief Minister.
