BJP’s first CM in Bihar sworn in
BJP leader Samrat Choudhary was sworn in as the 24th Chief Minister of Bihar on Wednesday marking history by becoming the first BJP leader to assume the top post in the State.
He was administered the oath of office by Governor Syed Ata Hasnain at the Lok Bhawan, in the presence of a host of dignitaries, including JD(U) president Nitish Kumar.
Also present at the oath taking were Union minister and former BJP president JP Nadda and Chirag Paswan, who heads the LJP (RV), the third-largest constituent of the ruling NDA in Bihar.
Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, both from the JD(U), also took oath on the occasion as deputy chief ministers. NDA sources said they were expecting a cabinet expansion at the earliest, since the current arrangement left no scope to ensure that different caste groups were represented.
Chaudhary is a Koeri, a powerful OBC group, while Vijay Kumar Chaudhary is a Bhumihar, an upper caste group that is known to be inclined more towards the BJP than his own JD (U). Bijendra Prasad Yadav belongs to the state’s most populous OBC group which has been aligned with the RJD, the main Opposition party in the State.
Until the allocation of cabinet berths, the new CM has kept with himself close to 29 portfolios, including crucial ones like home, vigilance, revenue and land reforms and health. The other departments that remain with the CM include agriculture, labour resources and migrant workers welfare, disaster management, panchayati raj and industries.
Vijay Kumar Chaudhary has been allocated 10 departments, including water resources, parliamentary affairs and information and public relations, portfolios that he held in the previous Nitish Kumar Government.
Yadav will hold eight departments, including energy, finance and planning and development, which he had been entrusted with in the previous Government. He has also been allocated the prohibition, excise and registration department.
The JD(U) is expecting that the cabinet includes a Kurmi, the OBC group to which Nitish Kumar belongs, and a Muslim, in line with the party’s strategy of projecting a secular image. At present, the cabinet has no Dalit and no woman. Representation of both is a must in the current political climate.
PM Modi congratulated Choudhary and said his energy, dedication to public service and grassroots experience will prove extremely beneficial for the State. “Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Samrat Choudhary on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar! His energy, dedication to public service, and grassroots experience will prove extremely beneficial for the state. 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,” the PM Modi posted on social media.
Choudhary has been in politics for nearly three decades though the 57-year-old leader joined the BJP only nine years ago. “I will get down to work from today itself. Rest assured that the model of governance developed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ex-CM Nitish Kumar will be followed in Bihar,” Choudhary said after the swearing in ceremony.
After the oath-taking ceremony, the chief minister went to the secretariat where he held a meeting with Government officials, whom he briefed about priorities of his administration. Later, Choudhary also visited the BJP office where he was felicitated by party workers.
