Samrat Chaudhary Elected Bihar Chief Minister – Oath Tomorrow

Nitish Resigns After Two Decades

Samrat Chaudhary will be Bihar’s next Chief Minister. The BJP legislative party elected him as its leader on Tuesday afternoon. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 11 am tomorrow, 15 April, at Lok Bhavan in Patna.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, appointed as the party’s observer, announced Samrat Chaudhary’s name following a meeting at the BJP office. Party workers raised “Samrat Chaudhary Zindabad” slogans as he arrived.

Nitish Kumar Steps Down

Earlier in the day, Nitish Kumar resigned as Chief Minister after 20 years in office. He reached Raj Bhavan along with Samrat Chaudhary and cabinet minister Vijay Chaudhary to submit his resignation to the Governor.

The former chief minister described the moment as a planned transition. “We had decided to step down from the post of Chief Minister,” he wrote on X. “The new government will now take charge. It will have my full support. Good work will continue, and Bihar will move forward.”

BJP Legislative Party Meeting

The BJP legislative party meeting was held at Atal Sabhagar in the party office. Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP president Nitin Nabin arrived in Patna to oversee the selection process. BL Santosh also reached Patna earlier in the day.

Security was tightened along Anne Marg from the Chief Minister’s residence to Lok Bhavan. Barricading was put in place as media personnel gathered outside the CM House.

Cabinet Approves Vote of Thanks

Nitish Kumar chaired his final cabinet meeting at the Secretariat. The session lasted approximately 15 minutes. Ministers approved a vote of thanks proposal, expressing gratitude to the outgoing chief minister.

“This is an emotional moment for the whole of Bihar,” said Ram Kripal Yadav after the meeting. “Nitish Kumar has worked for the state for 20 years.”

Giriraj Thanks Nitish for Blessings

Union Minister Giriraj Singh confirmed that Samrat Chaudhary was chosen with Nitish Kumar’s consent. “I would like to thank Nitish Kumar for deciding to go to Delhi, which led to this situation, and for giving his blessings to Samrat Chaudhary,” Singh said.

BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy called the development a new chapter. “Giving up power despite having it reflects Nitish Kumar’s large-hearted nature. His name will be written in the pages of history.”

Emotional Response from Family

Shreyasi Singh, minister and Samrat Chaudhary’s sister, described the day as both emotional and historic. “Nitish Kumar is leaving Bihar and going to Delhi. He has done a lot of work for the state,” she said. “It is also a historic day as my elder brother has become Chief Minister.”

PM Modi Likely to Attend Ceremony

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony tomorrow, according to sources. The NDA legislature party meeting will be held later Tuesday to formalise the alliance’s support.

Union Minister Jama Khan had earlier confirmed on 13 April that a new government would be formed, with the oath-taking scheduled for 15 April. For the first time since 2005, Bihar will have a Chief Minister from the BJP.

New Government Takes Shape in Manipur as Khemchand Set to Become Chief Minister

 In a significant political development, Manipur is poised to get a new government led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yumnam Khemchand, ending nearly a year of Central rule. The move signals an attempt to restore stability in the state ravaged by ethnic strife.

According to sources, Yumnam Khemchand arrived in Imphal on Wednesday and is expected to meet the Governor to formally stake claim to form the government. He will then take oath as the Chief Minister, heading a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition. In a notable step towards inclusive leadership, the new cabinet is likely to feature two Deputy Chief Ministers, including Kuki leader Nemcha Kipgen, who would become the state's first woman Deputy CM.

A Delicate Balance of Leadership

The decision follows a meeting of the Manipur BJP legislative party in New Delhi on Tuesday, where Yumnam Khemchand, the MLA from Singjamei, was elected as its leader. The names are expected to be ratified in a meeting of NDA MLAs.

Khemchand, a former Speaker and minister in the previous Biren Singh cabinet, is seen as a figure from the majority Meitei community but with a more moderate stance. His outreach to Kuki-dominated areas in late 2025 marked him as a potential bridge-builder.

Historic Inclusion in the Cabinet

The proposed cabinet structure aims to address the state's deep ethnic divisions. The two Deputy Chief Minister roles are strategically assigned:

Nemcha Kipgen: A BJP MLA from the Kuki-majority Kangpokpi constituency, she has served as a minister in previous governments. Her inclusion is a direct outreach to the Kuki-Zo community.

 Losii Dikho: An MLA from the Naga People’s Front (NPF), representing the Naga community, ensuring broader tribal representation.

This arrangement attempts to balance the political equation after violent clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities forced the resignation of then-CM N. Biren Singh in February 2025, leading to the imposition of President's Rule.

Why This Government Formation Matters Now

The timing is critical. President's Rule is set to expire on February 12, 2026. The BJP, with 37 MLAs in the 60-member house (now suspended), is maneuvering to install a government for the remainder of the term until 2027. The new leadership's immediate and immense challenge will be to navigate the complex path to lasting peace.

Background: The Roots of the Conflict

The ethnic violence that precipitated the political crisis stemmed from several key issues:

Scheduled Tribe (ST) Status Demand: A Manipur High Court order in April 2023 to consider ST status for the Meitei community ignited Kuki fears over land rights and demographic change in the hills.

Separate Administration Demand: Sections of the Kuki-Zo community have escalated calls for a separate administrative unit, a demand rejected by the state government.

Drug Trade Allegations: Accusations by Meitei groups and the former government implicating Kukis in drug trafficking from Myanmar have fueled severe mistrust.

The formation of this new government, with its unprecedented structure, is a major political experiment for Manipur. All eyes will now be on Chief Minister-designate Yumnam Khemchand and his team to see if this coalition can translate political symbolism into tangible peace and reconciliation on the ground.