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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...

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 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.

India housing market outperforms global peers: Knight Frank

India’s residential housing market continues to outperform most global peers, demonstrating resilience amid easing interest rates and an uneven global recovery, according to Knight Frank’s Global House Price Index Q3 2025 and India Real Estate: Office and Residential Market – H2 2025 reports.


Globally, annual house price growth strengthened modestly to 2.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2025 as major central banks pivoted towards monetary easing. Against this backdrop, India emerged as one of the strongest performers, ranking 10th worldwide with a 9.6 per cent year-on-year rise in residential property prices.


India was also the only Asia-Pacific market to feature in the global top 10, significantly outperforming the global average and underlining the strength of end-user-driven demand.


Turkey topped the global charts with nominal price growth of 32.2 per cent year-on-year, although real prices remained marginally negative due to high inflation. Other strong performers included North Macedonia, Portugal, Bulgaria and Hungary, largely driven by supply constraints and sustained demand in select European markets.


Knight Frank’s data shows that residential sales across India’s top eight cities remained steady in 2025 at over 348,000 units, with the second half of the year recording the highest sales volumes since 2013. Despite an increase in unsold inventory, largely due to the launch of higher-value projects, market health indicators remained stable. The quarters-to-sell ratio stood at a balanced 5.8 quarters, indicating sustained absorption.


Price growth was broad-based across major Indian cities. The National Capital Region led the pack with a sharp 19 per cent year-on-year increase, followed by Hyderabad at 13 per cent, Bengaluru at 12 per cent and Mumbai at 7 per cent.


According to the report, this upward momentum reflects strong demand in the premium and mid-to-premium segments, supported by cumulative interest-rate cuts, benign inflation and rising household incomes.


A significant structural shift in buyer preferences continued through 2025. Homes priced above Rs 1 crore accounted for nearly 50 per cent of total residential sales, highlighting growing demand for larger, better-quality homes in well-located developments. Developers, in response, have moderated new launches, focused on execution and offered targeted financing incentives rather than resorting to price corrections, helping maintain sales momentum.


Commenting on the outlook, Shishir Baijal, International Partner, Chairman and Managing Director of Knight Frank India, said India’s housing market continues to stand apart in an otherwise uneven global environment. “The combination of strong economic growth, easing financial conditions and a decisive shift towards end-user-led demand has created a more mature and resilient residential cycle. As we move into 2026, we expect the market to be defined by stable absorption, selective price appreciation and disciplined supply, rather than speculative excess,” he said.


Globally, emerging and select European markets dominated the upper end of the price growth rankings in Q3 2025, while several mature markets continued to lag. Price declines persisted in parts of Northern Europe and East Asia, underscoring the uneven nature of the global housing recovery.


Looking ahead, Knight Frank expects a cautiously improving outlook for global housing markets. The broad pivot towards rate cuts is easing borrowing costs and supporting buyer sentiment, but real price growth remains under pressure in many countries due to lingering inflation.


“Nominal growth has edged higher again as central banks pivot towards cuts, but real gains are still hard-won. To see firmer growth into 2026, policymakers will need to maintain an easing stance while inflation continues to retreat,” said Liam Bailey, Global Head of Research at Knight Frank.


With supportive global monetary conditions and robust domestic fundamentals, India’s residential sector is well positioned to sustain its relative outperformance in the period ahead, the report noted.

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