BJP leader Samrat Chaudhary took oath as the 24th Chief Minister of Bihar on Wednesday in a brief and low-profile ceremony held at Lok Bhavan, Patna. Along with him, Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary from the JD(U) quota were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers.
Governor Syed Ata Hasnain administered the oath of office and secrecy.
BJP president Nitin Nabin, the party’s central observer Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, who grew up in Bihar, were among the few senior central leaders present at the ceremony. They were joined by leaders of all five NDA constituents, including Nitish Kumar, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Upendra Kushwaha and Chirag Paswan.
It is believed that the BJP chose to keep the event low-key and did not invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah or other top national leaders to avoid any potential embarrassment to Nitish Kumar.
The formation of the new government marks a reversal of the earlier arrangement: while Bihar previously had a JD(U) Chief Minister with two BJP Deputy Chief Ministers, it now has a BJP Chief Minister with two JD(U) Deputy Chief Ministers.
Following Nishant Kumar’s refusal to join the government at this stage, the JD(U) nominated Bijendra Yadav and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary as Deputy Chief Ministers.
Although the names of other JD(U) leaders close to Nitish Kumar, including Lalan Singh, Sanjay Jha, and Ashok Chaudhary, were under discussion, the final decision was made by Nitish Kumar himself. This also led to the cancellation of the JD(U) meeting scheduled on Tuesday to elect its Legislative Party leader.
Vijay Chaudhary is often seen alongside Nitish Kumar like a shadow. He has previously served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and is regarded as a troubleshooter for him. Currently a minister in the state government, he belongs to the ‘upper caste’ Bhumihar community.
Bijendra Yadav has consistently held key responsibilities in Nitish Kumar’s government and is considered a trusted aide with strong administrative skills. He belongs to Yadav caste, a dominant OBC community in the state..
There was speculation that Yadav was reluctant to serve as deputy to Samrat Chaudhary and had even considered retiring from active politics. However, it is understood that Nitish Kumar persuaded him to take up the role until Nishant Kumar is ready to join the government. Once Nishant Kumar indicates his willingness to enter the cabinet, Bijendra Yadav is expected to step aside.
The Cabinet will be expanded in due course, with a focus on maintaining caste and regional balance. Several new faces may be given an opportunity, while some experienced leaders are also likely to be included.