In Bihar, BJP, JD(U), Cong have one common factor: state chiefs groomed in RJD

Samrat Choudhary, an OBC Kushwaha leader, who joined the BJP in 2017, was preferred over other leaders to replace Dr Sanjay Jaiswal, who had exceeded his three-year term. Samrat was chosen by the BJP central leadership with ostensibly the objective of splitting Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s core constituency of Luv-Kush (Kurmi-Koeri) votes.

The son of former RJD leader Shakuni Choudhary, who represented Tarapur Assembly seat several times, Samrat was once considered very close to Lalu. Soon after the father and son had joined the RJD in 1999, Samrat had been made a minister in the Rabri Devi government. He, however, later had to quit the post after allegations of being underage (below 25 years) at the time. Samrat won from Parbatta (Khagaria) Assembly seat in 2004 and 2010 on an RJD ticket, before switching to the JD(U) in 2014.

Asked about Samrat’s elevation as the BJP state chief, Nitish reacted: “Where was he? He was first with RJD, then came with us, and then left. It hardly matters who becomes what (in the BJP).” RJD national spokesperson Subodh Kumar Mehta said: “The RJD has been a training ground for leaders in the state. Samrat’s choice as new state BJP chief also shows that the BJP has failed to nurture talents and has to depend on an import.”

In the Congress, Akhilesh Prasad Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP and a Bhumihar leader, replaced Madan Mohan Jha, another upper caste, as the state chief in December 2022. Singh, who had won from Motihari Lok Sabha seat in 2004 from the RJD, was a minister in the UPA I government. After quitting the RJD before the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, he contested the 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha polls as a Congress nominee unsuccessfully.

JD(U) state chief Umesh Kushwaha lost from Mahnar Assembly seat in the February 2005 and October 2005 elections as an RJD candidate; as well as an Independent in 2010 from the same seat. He later joined the JD(U) and was the state organisation secretary of the party before being made the JD(U) state chief in January 2021.

A senior Congress leader argued that the political background of a leader is not always important. “Akhilesh Prasad Singh was chosen the Bihar PCC head because of his organisational skills”. A JD(U) leader said Umesh Kushwaha had always been a part of the socialist camp. BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand said: “Samrat Choudhary has earned his position in the BJP because of his hard work and persistence. For the RJD, it is just a matter of grapes being sour.”