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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.

Jarange’s decision harmful for MVA

Updated: Nov 7, 2024

Jarange

Mumbai: Diwali is barely over but the fireworks are still exploding in the political arena. On the last day of withdrawing nominations for the upcoming elections, Manoj Jarange-Patil announced that he wouldn’t field any candidates for the polls. This was hours after he “vowed revenge” against the Mahayuti alliance. Only a day earlier on Sunday, he had claimed to back 25 candidates across the state. The BJP and Shiv Sena are heaving a sigh of relief especially for its candidates contesting from Marathwada, the epicentre of the quota protests and other constituencies with a sizeable Maratha population. But the real cheer, say political watchers, is in the MVA especially the NCP (SP).


Party insiders say that when minister Uday Samant and the chief minister’s personal assistant held a midnight meeting with Manoj Jarange-Patil at Antarvali- Saraati, a few days before Diwali, it is believed that the duo was tasked with convincing the Maratha quota activist to name candidates wherever he wanted. The Mahayuti would unconditionally back those. These candidates would be used to hurt the chances of the MVA candidates. It would have been a coup had he accepted. Incidentally, the NCP (SP) has nominated candidates from several seats in Marathwada with a special emphasis on the region.


Jarange-Patil’s withdrawal announcement met with a sharp rebuke from Laxman Hate who mocked him by saying that “calls from Baramati” were responsible for the change of heart. But the decision is likely to, indeed, benefit the NCP (SP) apart from other members of the MVA. While Jarange-Patil claimed that he couldn’t get the support of Muslims and Dalits and didn’t want to back only Maratha candidates, the real reasons are different.


In Parli which falls in Beed, which is the heartland of the protests, the NCP (SP) has played the Maratha card well by fielding Rajesahe Deshmukh against Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde. The seat is seeing friction between Marathas and OBCs and Jarange-Patil’s decision will help consolidate the Maratha vote in favour of Deshmukh. Similarly, in Majalgaon in the same district, Mohan Jagtap will now not have to contend with the Maratha votes breaking up in favour of a candidate backed by Jarange-Patil. A few days ago, the activist had vowed by put up candidates in Daund and Parvati, one held by the BJP and the other by the NCP (SP).


Marathas constitute 30 to 33 per cent of the electorate in Maharashtra. The MVA expects to win the Maratha vote in most constituencies while the OBCs have traditionally shown more faith in the BJP ever since Gopinath Munde, an OBC leader, rose up the party’s ranks.


Last week, Samarjeet Ghatge, the NCP (SP)’s pick from Kagal had also met Jarange-Patil to seek his cooperation and support considering that Kagal also has a sizeable Maratha population. A candidate backed by Jarange-Patil would have eaten into Ghatge’s voteshare. The eal agenda of the meeting also apparently involved a plea by Ghatge for Jarange-Patil not to put up candidates that would upset the MVA’s chances with caste mathematics. Ghatge was supposedly selected for the job given his family’s relationship with Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, the erstwhile royal who is highly respected for working towards equality for all castes.


At present, Jarange-Patil is one public persona in Maharashtra who no party wants to be on the wrong side of. Given the massive following that he enjoys among the community, all political parties and candidates are seeking his support. The announcement that all parties were waiting for will relieve the pressures of the Mahayuti in a few constituencies but is likely to benefit the NCP (SP) the most.

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