NDA elects Samrat Chaudhary as leader after Nitish Kumar’s resignation; swearing-in scheduled for Wednesday
April 14, 2026: Nitish Kumar stepped down as Chief Minister of Bihar on Tuesday after chairing his final Cabinet meeting and submitting his resignation to the Governor. Soon after, the NDA legislature party met in Patna and unanimously elected Samrat Chaudhary as its leader, paving the way for him to take over as the new Chief Minister. His swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 11 AM on Wednesday at Lok Bhavan.
The leadership transition was overseen by senior BJP leaders, including Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who attended as central observer, along with key party figures such as B. L. Santosh and Vinod Tawde. Chaudhary’s elevation had been widely anticipated, with his growing prominence within the party and state politics making him the frontrunner for the top post.
Currently serving as Deputy Chief Minister, Chaudhary has held several key roles, including state BJP president and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council. His political journey began with the Rashtriya Janata Dal before he moved to the Janata Dal (United) and later joined the BJP in 2018. With over three decades in politics, the Munger-born leader now steps into Bihar’s top role, marking a significant shift in the state’s political landscape.