Patna: The “Nitish era” in Bihar came to an end on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar submitted his resignation to the Governor, formally closing one of the longest and most influential political chapters in the state’s history.
With this transition, Bihar is set to witness its first-ever Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister. Senior BJP leader Samrat Choudhary is scheduled to take oath as the 24th Chief Minister of the state at 11 a.m. today, after being elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party.
The development marks a major political shift in Bihar, where Nitish Kumar had remained the central figure of governance for years, shaping the state’s politics through multiple alliances and changing coalitions.
A Political Journey Rooted in Legacy
Samrat Choudhary’s rise to the top post carries the imprint of a strong political legacy. Born on November 16, 1968, he is the son of veteran socialist leader Shakuni Choudhary, who was a prominent figure in Bihar politics and once shared close political ties with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Interestingly, Samrat Choudhary’s own political journey has traversed across ideological lines. Over the years, he has been associated with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Janata Dal (United) (JDU), and later the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Despite his current strong criticism of RJD politics, his early political grooming is believed to have taken place in the “political school” of Lalu Prasad Yadav.
His father, Shakuni Choudhary, later shifted allegiance and aligned with Nitish Kumar, reflecting the evolving dynamics of Bihar’s coalition politics over the decades.
Personal Life and Support System
Behind Samrat Choudhary’s long political journey stands his wife, Mamta Kumari, who has played a steady and supportive role throughout his career. A practicing lawyer by profession, Mamta Kumari is not directly active in electoral politics but has remained an influential presence in her husband’s public life.
During the recent election campaign, she actively participated in outreach programmes in constituencies such as Munger and Tarapur, areas considered to be part of the family’s political base. Several of her campaign videos had also gone viral during the election period, where she appealed to voters to support her husband, highlighting his contribution to the state’s development.
As a legal professional, she is also known to speak on issues related to social justice and women’s empowerment. While managing her professional commitments, she has also been responsible for maintaining family responsibilities, including the upbringing of their two children.
Assets and Public Disclosure
According to election affidavits, Samrat Choudhary’s total declared assets, including movable and immovable properties, are valued at approximately Rs 11.34 crore. Out of this, assets worth around Rs 28 lakh are registered in his wife’s name, while their children also hold assets worth several lakhs. Importantly, the affidavit indicates that the family has no outstanding loans or liabilities.
As Bihar prepares for a new political chapter under its 24th Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary’s elevation marks a defining moment in the state’s evolving power structure—signalling the end of an era and the beginning of a new political phase.
