Post-Nitish, BJP Bets on Samrat Choudhary in Bihar’s Caste Chessboard

After Nitish Kumar steps down, BJP turns to Samrat Choudhary—signalling a strategic caste pivot and new power balance in Bihar.

By MANISH ANAND

New Delhi, April 14, 2026: — Power transition in Patna is almost smooth. Within hours of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar handing over his resignation to Governor Syed Ata Hasnain, the BJP “elected” Samrat Choudhary as the legislative party leader in Bihar. In simple terms, the development means that Choudhary with be Bihar’s next Chief Minister.

In the presence of the BJP’s central observer Shivraj Singh Chouhan, a Union Minister, the Bihar’s party MLAs “chose” Choudhary as their leaders. Later, Choudhary told reporters that he had “learnt governance from Nitish Kumar.” Union Minister Giriraj Singh also told reporters that “Kumar had blessed Choudhary.”

With the CM question now almost settled, the BJP-JD (U) equations’ terms need to be revealed. That will be seen in allocation of portfolios. Spotlight will be on the Home department. Choudhary had taken the coveted department from Kumar in a consequential development after the formation of the government after the Assembly elections late last year. Also, the post of the Bihar Assembly Speaker will be in the spotlight. This also is currently with the BJP.

In Choudhary, Bihar may get a first CM from the ranks of the BJP. After 21 years of supporting Kumar as a junior partner, the BJP is set to slip into the driver’s role in power politics in Patna. With 89 MLAs, the BJP has four more legislators than the Janata Dal (United) in Bihar’s Assembly. But the Opposition was almost decimated in the Assembly election. The scope for any dramatic political realignment was negated in the Bihar verdict of 2025.

The recent Rajya Sabha elections revealed that the Opposition ranks, particularly the Congress, have become more vulnerable for poaching by either the BJP or the JD (U). With the Opposition ranks in a disarray, the BJP gained significant political heft to dictate terms with the JD (U) and Kumar.

In Choudhary, the BJP has found a face to break into the caste base of the JD (U). Hailing from Koeri (Kushwaha) caste, the BJP hopes that the social base of the upper caste can now expand. Significantly, the BJP lacked a base among the OBCs in Bihar.

Nitish Kumar Resigns as Bihar CM, Signals Governance Transition

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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