Soon after being elected leader of the BJP Legislative Party, Samrat Chaudhary, in a social media message, described Nitish Kumar’s “highly successful tenure and model of good governance” as a source of inspiration.
He also said under Nitish Kumar’s guidance, “Bihar will continue to move forward steadily on the path of development.”
However, political observers differ, arguing that Nitish Kumar has left behind a complex and multi-faceted legacy for his successor.
On the political front, a major challenge for Samrat Chaudhary will be to further consolidate the BJP’s support base among the Kurmi-Koeri communities, which is considered to be one of the key reasons behind his elevation to the post. Another pressing challenge is improving the law and order situation, which critics say deteriorated during his tenure as Home Minister in the previous government.
According to observers, Bihar remains a difficult terrain for the BJP, with several caste-based leaders exercising strong influence over their respective communities. These include Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Chirag Paswan, Mukesh Sahani, and Jitan Ram Manjhi. Besides, the Koeri-Kushwaha vote remains fragmented across parties, making it difficult for the BJP to build a stable social base and for Chaudhary to emerge as a pan-Bihar leader.
Law and order continues to be a significant challenge for the Bihar government. Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has frequently released crime bulletins targeting the government. Samrat Chaudhary has refuted these claims, often invoking comparisons with the Lalu-Rabri era. His standard response has been: this is not the government of the RJD or Lalu Yadav where power in Bihar is run from the Chief Minister’s Office. Here, anyone involved in crime or wrongdoing will be sent to jail.
However, critics argue that the ground situation has not improved substantially.
The issue of infiltration in the Seemanchal region, raised repeatedly during the Assembly elections, is another concern that Samrat Chaudhary will need to address.
A review of Bihar’s prohibition law is also a challenge for the new government. The JD (U) has described it as a protective-shield for women and a tool for social reform. On the other hand, the Opposition and some allied parties have demanded a review pointing to its negative aspects, including the illegal liquor trade, deaths due to spurious alcohol, and significant revenue loss.
Despite Nitish Kumar’s assertions of good governance, Bihar continues to rank at or near the bottom among Indian states on most development indicators and remains among the poorest states by a wide margin. Even though it has recorded strong economic growth in recent years, the state still grapples with deep disparities in income, education, and overall human development.
For the new government, a key challenge will be to improve Bihar’s standing on the Human Development Index (HDI) and other social indicators, while also addressing the persistent issue of large-scale migration for employment and education.