Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s decision to file his nomination for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls has sparked speculation over who might succeed him as the head of the government in the politically crucial state.
Reports suggest that Deputy Chief Minister and former state BJP president Samrat Choudhary could emerge as the front-runner if Kumar vacates the post. As the single largest party in Bihar, the BJP is now likely to stake claim to the chief ministership, signaling that it no longer wishes to remain the junior partner in the alliance with the JD(U).
Choudhary has been a key power centre in the state BJP. During his tenure as state president, the party consolidated its position and made significant inroads across Bihar.
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He currently holds the home portfolio, traditionally reserved for the chief minister, a move that highlighted the BJP’s growing influence within the government and the ruling alliance.
Caste dynamics also favor Choudhary. Representing the Tarapur Assembly constituency, he belongs to the Kushwaha community, the second-largest OBC group in Bihar after the Yadavs. With the BJP aiming to consolidate non-Yadav OBC votes, Choudhary’s elevation to the CM post could prove to be a game changer politically.
After the 2025 Assembly elections, when the BJP won 89 seats—four more than the JD(U)—there was speculation that Choudhary could be named chief minister. However, the party allowed Kumar to continue, a strategic move aimed at maintaining alliance stability.
Choudhary’s potential elevation would also mark a historic first: he could become the first BJP chief minister in Bihar, the only major Hindi heartland state where the party has yet to occupy the top post.