The pagdi fits: Samrat Choudhary follows Jannayak Karpoori Thakur’s path to Bihar CM post

PATNA: “Have faith and ensure Samrat wins by a landslide. Modi ji will elevate him to a position of great prominence,” Union home minister Amit Shah had said during an assembly election rally in Tarapur, Munger, on Oct 30. Five months later, deputy CM Samrat Choudhary is set to take oath as the BJP’s first CM in Bihar on Wednesday. He is also the second deputy CM after Jannayak Karpoori Thakur to rise to the post of chief minister in the state.

BJP stalwart Sushil Kumar Modi served as Nitish’s deputy on several occasions but never became CM. The same has been the case with RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav so far.




As he prepares to assume office, Samrat faces a formidable challenge, as comparisons with his predecessor Nitish Kumar are inevitable. Nitish set a high benchmark for governance over the past two decades, raising expectations from his successor.

A Koeri by caste, Samrat has served as an MLA from Parbatta in Khagaria and Tarapur in Munger. He has also been an MLC and fits into the Luv-Kush (Kurmi-Koeri) social equation of the BJP in Bihar, where this grouping forms the second-largest segment among the OBCs, after Yadavs, who are generally considered aligned with the RJD.

Born on Nov 16, 1968, to Shakuni Choudhary and Parvati Devi, both former MLAs, at Lakhanpur in Munger, the 57-year-old began his political journey with the RJD led by Lalu Prasad, who inducted him as a minister in Rabri Devi’s govt. He was, however, later removed from the post following a controversy regarding his age.

Samrat subsequently aligned with JD(U) and later joined the BJP, demonstrating his ability to navigate shifting political currents in tune with changing times.

He rose steadily through the party ranks, from a grassroots worker to holding senior organisational responsibilities, eventually becoming Bihar BJP president and earning the trust of Amit Shah as well as Nitish Kumar.

The BJP’s decision to project Samrat as its first CM in Bihar reflects his experience in both organisational management and governance. He has served as a minister under Rabri Devi, Jitan Ram Manjhi and Nitish Kumar, handling portfolios such as agriculture and panchayati raj, urban development, finance and the home department. He has also served as deputy CM for two consecutive terms.

In addition to his roles in govt, he has served as the leader of the opposition in the legislative council.

According to his election affidavits, Samrat completed his higher education at Madurai Kamaraj University in Tamil Nadu and holds an honorary DLitt degree from California Public University. The opposition has raised questions about his degree on several occasions. As per his 2025 affidavit, his net worth is approximately Rs11.35 crore.

An aggressive orator, he is regarded as a disciplined BJP leader. Political observers recall an election meeting last year where Nitish asked him to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi as NDA workers presented a large garland to the PM. Samrat, however, maintained his place in the hierarchy and did not step forward.

In his personal life, his wife Mamta Kumari and their two children — a son and a daughter — have stood firmly by his side throughout his political journey.