The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds chief minister positions in several key Hindi-speaking states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana, but not yet in Bihar. This situation could shift on Tuesday.
Nitish Kumar, currently a member of the Rajya Sabha, plans to step down today from his role as Bihar’s longest-serving chief minister. This move paves the way for a new leader, expected to come from the BJP, which is an ally of Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) at both state and national levels.
Samrat Choudhary, who serves as Kumar’s deputy, is a prominent candidate for the position.
A gathering of Bihar BJP lawmakers is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at around 2 p.m. at the party’s Patna office to select their legislative leader.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been named as the central observer for this process. The chosen BJP leader is anticipated to become the new chief minister.
Following the BJP meeting, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) lawmakers will convene at approximately 4 p.m. in the assembly’s central hall to endorse the selection.
If events proceed as expected, the BJP, previously a junior partner in the Janata Dal (United)-led administration, will install its first chief minister in Bihar.
The Janata Dal (United) holds 85 seats in the 243-member assembly, just four fewer than the BJP.
According to sources, Nitish Kumar has personally suggested Samrat Choudhary for the role, strengthening his candidacy.
Choudhary, aged 57, belongs to the Koeri or Kushwaha community, a significant Other Backward Class (OBC) group in Bihar, which enhances his prospects.
Among backward castes, the Kushwaha group is the second largest after the Yadavs. Sources indicate that the Janata Dal (United) has urged the BJP to choose a chief minister from this community.
However, given the BJP’s past approaches to selecting chief ministers in other states, outcomes remain uncertain.
Other potential candidates include Nisha Singh, a lawmaker from Pranpur who also belongs to the Kushwaha community. Sources suggest this could be a tactical choice ahead of women’s empowerment legislation.
There is discussion of selecting a leader from the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs). Prominent among them is Minister Pramod Chandravanshi, who joined the BJP via its student wing and now oversees cooperation, forests, and environment portfolios.
Sanjeev Chaurasia, a three-term lawmaker from Digha, is another contender. His family has deep ties to the party, and he could help rally EBC support.
Speaker Prem Kumar, from an EBC background, is interested, though his age might be a factor.
Other EBC names mentioned include Hari Sahni and Rama Nishad.
Proposals also exist for a Scheduled Caste leader, representing about 20% of the population, which could influence upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Janak Ram, from the Ravidas community and a current legislative council member, is under consideration. His appointment might appeal to similar voter groups in Uttar Pradesh.
Lakhendra Paswan, a two-term lawmaker from Patepur and a minister close to a union home affairs official, has recently met with Nitish Kumar, boosting his profile.
Additionally, BJP parliamentarian Sanjay Jaiswal and Minister Dilip Jaiswal are being discussed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the new chief minister’s swearing-in on April 15, according to sources.
