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The JDU has turned to familiar, seasoned hands, Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary to serve as Deputies to Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary.
Bijendra Prasad Yadav (left) and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary (right) will be the Deputy CMs of Bihar. (Image: PTI)
Bihar is set for a huge transition after years of having Nitish Kumar at the helm. As Nitish Kumar steps down from the Chief Minister’s post to move to the Rajya Sabha, drawing the curtain on a long and defining administrative run, senior BJP leader Samrat Choudhary is set to take over the reigns of Bihar from him. Choudhary will take oath today as the new Chief Minister, marking not just a change of guard, but a moment that could recalibrate equations within the NDA in Bihar.
The reshuffle has also come with a quiet but telling decision within the JD(U). Amid speculation about a generational shift, Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar has chosen to stay away from formal politics, declining the Deputy Chief Minister’s post. Instead, the party has turned to familiar, seasoned hands, Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, leaders who may not dominate headlines but have long been central to how the government actually functions.
Follow LIVE updates of the Bihar CM and Deputy CMs swearing-in ceremony here.
Who Is Bijendra Prasad Yadav?
Born on October 10, 1946, Bijendra Prasad Yadav’s political journey has been about consistency. Representing Supaul since 1990, he has been elected to the Bihar Assembly nine times, a sign not just of electoral strength, but of sustained trust from his constituency across changing political climates.
What sets Yadav apart is his working style. He is not a leader who thrives on rallies or media presence. Instead, his influence is felt in quieter spaces, department meetings, policy reviews, and the day-to-day grind of governance. Over the years, he has handled portfolios like Energy, Finance, Commercial Taxes, and Planning & Development, departments that demand patience and a deep understanding of how the state’s machinery works.
Those who have observed Bihar’s governance often describe him as someone Nitish Kumar could rely on without second thought. Whether it was improving power supply or managing financial planning, Yadav has been part of the core team executing policy on the ground. At 79, his elevation as Deputy Chief Minister is less about political optics and more about ensuring that experience continues to anchor the system during a time of change.
Who Is Vijay Kumar Chaudhary?
Born on January 8, 1957, Vijay Kumar Chaudhary brings a different, but complementary, dimension to the leadership mix. If Yadav is the administrator, Chaudhary is often seen as the negotiator, the person who can keep conversations going even when politics gets complicated.
Active in public life since the early 1980s and currently representing Sarairanjan in Samastipur, Chaudhary has built his reputation steadily over the years. One of the most defining chapters of his career came between 2015 and 2020, when he served as Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly. In that role, he was often required to walk a tightrope, ensuring order in a politically charged House while maintaining neutrality.
Beyond that, his experience spans key ministries such as Finance, Education, Parliamentary Affairs, and Water Resources. But more than the positions he has held, it is his approach that stands out, measured, accessible, and rarely confrontational. Within the JD(U) and the NDA, he is often seen as someone who can build consensus quietly, without drawing attention to himself.
Now in his late 60s, Chaudhary’s appointment as Deputy Chief Minister signals the need for that steady, balancing presence, especially in a government where equations are evolving.
With Samrat Choudhary stepping in as Chief Minister, the JD(U) has ensured that the administrative core remains intact by placing two of its most experienced leaders alongside him.
One is a nine-term MLA who understands the bureaucracy inside out. The other is a seasoned political hand who knows how to keep both the Assembly and alliances on track.
April 15, 2026, 08:55 IST
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