PATNA, Apr 15: Bihar got its first BJP-led Government on Wednesday, with Samrat Choudhary taking the oath as the state Chief Minister, marking a major political transition in the state that saw the saffron party go from a supporting role to the centre of governance.
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Besides Choudhary, JD(U) stalwarts Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav also took oath as cabinet members. The two have been designated as Deputy Chief Ministers.
All three were administered the oath of office by Governor Syed Ata Hasnain at Lok Bhavan, a day after JDU’s longest-serving Bihar chief Nitish Kumar resigned from the top post.
Along with Kumar, Union Minister and former BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda and Union Minister Chirag Paswan, who heads LJP(RV), the third largest constituent of the ruling NDA in Bihar, were among those present at the oath-taking ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Samrat Choudhary, who became the first-ever BJP leader to head a government in Bihar, saying his energy, dedication to public service and grassroot experience will prove beneficial for the State. “Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Samrat Choudhary… I am fully confident that under his capable leadership, while fulfilling the aspirations of the people, Bihar will touch new heights of all-round development,” Modi said in a post on X in Hindi.
Choudhary, who briefly interacted with journalists after the swearing-in ceremony, said, “I will get down to work starting today. Rest assured that the model of governance developed by Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar will be followed in Bihar.”
The change of guard in the State was necessitated by Nitish Kumar, 75, becoming a member of the Rajya Sabha, bringing an end to his 20-year tenure as Chief Minister.
In the evening, a cabinet secretariat department notification announced that Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, both of whom have headed the JD(U)’s Bihar unit in the past, were being designated as deputy Chief Ministers.
According to the notification, the Chief Minister has retained the Home portfolio, and about 30 other crucial departments, including health, agriculture, industry and vigilance. Earlier, the state home ministry was with Samrat Chaudhary as a Deputy Chief Minister.
Samrat Choudhary has been in politics for nearly three decades, though the 57-year-old leader joined the BJP only nine years ago.
Among the 10 departments allocated to Vijay Kumar Chaudhary are water resources, parliamentary affairs and information and public relations, all of which he held in the previous Government.
Bijendra Prasad Yadav has been allocated eight departments, including power, finance and planning and development, all of which he was handling in the Nitish Kumar Government. (PTI)
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