Bihar gets new CM today as Samrat Choudhary set to take oath amid NDA show of strength

Bihar is set to witness a significant political shift as a new NDA government takes shape, with Samrat Choudhary scheduled to be sworn in as the state’s 24th chief minister on Wednesday.

The development marks a milestone for the BJP, which will lead the government in Bihar for the first time. The transition follows the resignation of Nitish Kumar, who stepped down a day earlier after moving to the Rajya Sabha, ending a long tenure at the helm of the state.

Choudhary, until recently the deputy chief minister, was unanimously elected leader of the NDA legislative party before meeting Governor Syed Ata Hasnain to stake claim to form the government.

Swearing-in at Lok Bhavan

The oath-taking ceremony will be held at Lok Bhavan at 10:50 am, where Governor Hasnain will administer the oath of office. Along with the chief minister, two deputy chief ministers — Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav — are set to take oath. The initial cabinet is expected to be small, with just three members being sworn in, while a larger expansion is likely in the coming weeks.

NDA consolidates behind Choudhary

The leadership change was formalised during a meeting of NDA MLAs, where Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar announced unanimous backing for Choudhary. Earlier, BJP legislators had elected him as their leader in the presence of senior party figures, including central observer Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Choudhary later thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying he would work to accelerate development while strengthening the party’s agenda in the state.

End of Nitish Kumar era

Before stepping down, Nitish Kumar paid tribute to B R Ambedkar and chaired a final cabinet meeting. He later submitted his resignation to the Governor and assured full support to the incoming administration.

One of Bihar’s longest-serving leaders, Kumar’s exit marks the end of a defining political phase in the state.

Opposition reacts sharply

The leadership change has triggered sharp political reactions. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav criticised the move, calling Choudhary a “product of Lalu ji’s school” and questioning the NDA’s mandate, noting that elections were fought under Nitish Kumar’s leadership.

Despite the criticism, BJP leaders have projected the transition as a landmark moment, underlining the party’s growing influence in Bihar. Choudhary’s elevation — from his early political beginnings in the RJD to becoming chief minister — signals a new phase in the state’s political landscape, with the NDA now firmly in control.