By:

Akhilesh Sinha

25 June 2025 at 2:53:54 pm

From legacy to leadership

Samrat Choudhary's ascent reflects legacy, caste dynamics, and political shifts Patna: The rise of Samrat Choudhary in Bihar's political landscape is not merely the story of an individual's success, but a reflection of a long political tradition, evolving social equations, and shifting power dynamics over time. Following his election as the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party's legislative wing, his elevation to the chief minister's office appears almost certain, which is marking a decisive...

min read

Samrat Choudhary's ascent reflects legacy, caste dynamics, and political shifts Patna: The rise of Samrat Choudhary in Bihar's political landscape is not merely the story of an individual's success, but a reflection of a long political tradition, evolving social equations, and shifting power dynamics over time. Following his election as the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party's legislative wing, his elevation to the chief minister's office appears almost certain, which is marking a decisive milestone in a political journey spanning more than three and half decades. Over the years, his political journey traversed multiple parties, including the Congress, Samata Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal (United), and Hindustani Awam Morcha. His name did surface in a high-profile criminal case in 1995, though he was later acquitted due to lack of evidence. Samrat Choudhary's mother Parvati Devi was also politically active and was elected as an MLA from Tarapur in a 1998 by-election. Among his siblings, Rohit Choudhary is associated with the JD(U) and is active in the education sector, while Dharmendra Choudhary is engaged in social work. His wife, Mamta Kumari, has also been actively involved during election campaigns. The family includes a son Pranay and a daughter Charu Priya. Choudhary entered active politics in 1990, beginning his career with the RJD. In 1999, he became Agriculture Minister in the Rabri Devi government, though his appointment was mired in controversy over his age, eventually forcing him to step down. He later parted ways with the RJD, moved to the JD(U), and ultimately joined the BJP. Since 2018, his stature within the BJP has steadily grown, culminating in his appointment as the party's Bihar state president in 2022. Controversy Man With the beginning of his new innings in the BJP, Choudhary once again found himself in the spotlight, this time over questions surrounding his educational qualifications. Allegations regarding the validity of the degree mentioned in his election affidavit became part of political discourse. The opposition, particularly Prashant Kishor, raised the issue forcefully during the elections. However, the controversy failed to gain substantive traction and remained confined to political rhetoric, with no significant impact on electoral outcomes. Hailing from the Tarapur region of Munger district, Choudhary's identity is deeply rooted in this region. Historically influential, the region has provided a strong social and political base for both him and his family. Belonging to the Kushwaha (Koeri) community, he represents a crucial social base in Bihar's caste equations. This makes his role significant in the 'Lav-Kush' (Kurmi-Koeri) political dynamic that has shaped the state's politics for decades. Sharp Turns Choudhary's political journey has been marked by sharp turns and contradictions. At one stage, he was among the fiercest critics of Nitish Kumar, even declaring that he would not remove his traditional 'Muraitha' (a kind of turban) until Kumar was unseated from power. Yet, as political equations shifted, Choudhary not only consolidated his position within the BJP but also emerged as a key figure in power-sharing arrangements with Nitish Kumar. After 2020, when Sushil Kumar Modi was moved to national politics, new opportunities opened up for Choudhary. He became a member of the Legislative Council, later served as Leader of the Opposition, and eventually rose to become state president. His political stature further expanded when, following Nitish Kumar's return to the NDA, Choudhary was entrusted with the dual roles of Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister, which is an unprecedented move in Bihar's political framework. Despite his rise, controversies have not been entirely absent from his career. Questions regarding his age and educational qualifications surfaced intermittently, though their long-term political impact remained limited. Today, Samrat Choudhary stands at the center of Bihar's political stage. His ascent is not merely the result of personal ambition but the outcome of a deep political legacy, an understanding of social dynamics, and strong organisational acumen. The real test now lies in how he transforms this legacy into effective governance and development. Strengthening law and order and meeting public expectations will be crucial. The people of Bihar are watching closely, and only time will determine how successfully he rises to the occasion.

Designing for AI Without Chasing It

Rashmi Kulkarni
Feb 15
3 min read

Over the last three weeks, we’ve tried to take the noise out of the AI conversation.

Week 1: AI isn’t a cure. It’s a diagnostic.

Week 2: AI breaks first where work is unclear.

Week 3: AI only creates leverage when the right conditions exist.

Now comes the real question:

How do you design for AI without turning your business into a lab?

Here’s a simpler way to think about it.

Stop thinking of AI as a tool. Think of it as a new hire.

When you hire a smart person, you don’t throw them into the business and hope they “figure it out”.

You give them:

a role
boundaries
access
supervision
rhythm

Most SMEs are doing the opposite with AI. They buy a tool, share logins, and feel surprised when:

responses sound polished but don’t match reality
customers get updates operations can’t fulfil
teams quietly bypass the system to protect themselves

That’s not AI failing. That’s poor onboarding. AI doesn’t need motivation. But it still needs a seat in your operating system.

The Mistake

The pattern we’re seeing is predictable. A leader introduces AI for relief. The team uses it for drafts and summaries. Then someone lets it touch real commitments … pricing, timelines, approvals. And stress follows. Not because teams fear AI. Because they fear being blamed for AI’s output.

When process clarity, input ownership, and decision rights are fuzzy, AI feels unsafe. So people hedge. Double-check. Keep the old system alive in parallel. So, the real question isn’t “How do we adopt AI?”

It’s: How do we create a structured place where AI can help without creating chaos?

The sequence

If you remember one line from this series, let it be this:

Capability → Automation → Intelligence.

Not as a lecture. As protection.

You don’t want AI to become a second operating system running on guesses.

Here’s what good sequencing looks like.

Step 1: Build one “AI lane”

Don’t launch AI everywhere. Pick one lane of work where:

the process is repeatable
errors are visible
ownership is clear

For example:

enquiry → quote → order confirmation
vendor purchase → invoice approval
support ticket → resolution

Choose one.

This isn’t about “starting small”. It’s about learning safely.

Step 2: Give AI a job description

A simple rule works:

AI can draft. Humans decide.

AI can:

draft replies
summarise calls
create first versions

AI should not:

commit delivery dates
approve payments
override pricing

The moment AI starts “deciding” in a system where decision rights are unclear, confusion follows. When boundaries are explicit, resistance drops. People feel protected.

Step 3: Define only the data that truly matters

Data discipline doesn’t mean cleaning everything. It means defining what must be correct for that one lane. If you’re using AI in order fulfilment, then ensure:

one customer master
one SKU naming rule
one pricing logic
one rule for promised dates

That’s it. You don’t need perfect data. You need owned critical data. Without it, AI becomes a confident guesser.

Step 4: Install a review rhythm

This is what separates experimentation from leverage. If you introduce AI and never review its use, two things happen:

small mistakes compound
trust erodes quietly

Instead, create a simple rhythm:

Once a week, review 5–10 AI-assisted cases.

Where did it help?

Where did it mislead?

What input was missing?

Adjust the process. When this rhythm exists, AI improves with the business instead of drifting away from it.

What to Fix

You don’t need a grand AI roadmap. Set one clear objective: Make one lane of your business legible.

Legible means:

the work has a defined shape
inputs have an owner
decisions have boundaries
reviews happen on time

Once work is legible, AI becomes useful naturally. Not because you chased it. Because it finally has something stable to sit on.

A Calm Close

Chasing AI creates short bursts of excitement and long-term fatigue. Designing for AI creates quiet confidence. The difference isn’t technology. It’s sequence. So instead of asking, “Which AI tool should we adopt next?” ask: Where in our business are we ready to multiply clarity? Because AI will multiply whatever you give it. Make sure it’s something worth multiplying.

(The writer is the CEO of PPS Consulting and quite passionate about helping SMEs make the right decisions and not costly ones. She can be reached at rashmi@ppsconsulting.biz)