Patna: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated its Deputy Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary, to contest the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections from Tarapur, the constituency long associated with his family. Choudhary is set to file his nomination on October 16, although the party’s full candidate list has yet to be released.
Tarapur carries significant political legacy for the Choudhary family. Samrat’s father, Shakuni Choudhary, served multiple terms as an MLA from the constituency, while his mother, Parvati Devi, also represented the seat in the past. Currently a member of the Bihar Legislative Council, Samrat Choudhary has previously served two terms as an MLA representing the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). He first won elections from the Parbatta seat in Khagaria district in 2000 and 2010.
The constituency has long been a site of political rivalry. Ramanand Prasad Singh, the Janata Dal (United) leader who defeated Samrat in earlier contests, served four terms as MLA from Parbatta. His son, Sanjeev Singh, won the seat in 2020 on a JDU ticket but has since joined RJD and will contest again under Tejashwi Yadav’s banner.
Samrat Choudhary’s candidacy has also revived old controversies. Political strategist Prashant Kishor recently referenced the 1995 Tarapur massacre, questioning Choudhary’s age and acquittal in the case, which coincided with Shakuni Choudhary’s electoral campaign at the time. Observers note that the issue has resurfaced as a point of contention in Tarapur ahead of the upcoming elections.
