Samrat Choudhary Becomes BJP's First Bihar Chief Minister After Nitish Kumar's Resignation

Samrat Choudhary was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar on 17 April 2026, becoming the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader to hold the top post in the State. He replaces Nitish Kumar, the long-serving Janata Dal (United) leader, who resigned as Chief Minister, marking a significant political transition in one of India's most populous States.

Nitish Kumar announced his resignation in a brief message stating that the new government would have his 'full cooperation and guidance'. He has served as Chief Minister of Bihar multiple times since 2005 across various alliance configurations. His exit from the chief minister's chair is seen as the end of an era in Bihar politics.

Samrat Choudhary, who was previously Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister, was elected leader of the BJP legislature party in the State. Senior NDA leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda, attended the swearing-in ceremony in Patna. The new government retains the existing NDA alliance between BJP and JD(U), with seat-sharing and ministry allocations being finalised.

For aspirants, the transition is relevant under Articles 163 and 164 of the Constitution, which govern the appointment of the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers in States. The episode also illustrates the role of the Governor in inviting the leader of the majority party or alliance to form the government after a resignation.

Bihar will hold Assembly elections in 2025-26; the leadership change is expected to shape the BJP's campaign strategy in the State.