Samrat Choudhary has been elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party in Bihar, while Vijay Kumar Sinha has been elected as its deputy leader on Sunday.
The political crisis in Bihar deepened on Sunday with JD(U) president Nitish Kumar’s resignation as chief minister. This comes after recent tension between RJD and JD(U). Kumar has now returned to his old ally BJP in Bihar and is set to take oath as Bihar CM for the 9th time today. He will form the government in the state with BJP’s support. Along with Kumar, BJP leaders Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha are likely to be made the deputy CMs in the new NDA government in the state. Earlier today, Choudhary was elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party in Bihar, while Vijay Kumar Sinha was elected as its deputy leader.
Who is Samrat Choudhary?
Choudhary, also known as Rakesh Kumar, is the Bihar BJP president. He has held the position since March 2023. The 55-year-old is a member of Bihar Legislative Council from BJP. He was elected for a second term as MLC in 2020 after his first term ended in 2019.
Prior to joining BJP in 2018, he has been associated with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) as well as Janata Dal (United). In the 2020 Bihar Assembly election, he was a star campaigner of National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He is an OBC leader belonging to the Koeri community and is known for his outspoken nature.
In 2021, Samrat was made Panchayati Raj minister in the expanded cabinet of Nitish Kumar from the BJP quota. He has also served as Minister for Urban Development and Housing, Health in 2014 in Jitan Ram Manjhi Ministry and Minister of Metrology and Horticulture in 1999 in Rabri Devi Ministry.
Who is Vijay Kumar Sinha?
He has been a BJP MLA from Lakhisarai constituency since 2010. The 56-year-old is currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly. He was the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly from 25 Nov 2020 to 24 August 2022. Sinha resigned from his post following a no-confidence motion moved against him by the Mahagathbandhan (RJD-JD(U)).