Samrat Choudhary

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Samrat Choudhary, born on 16 November 1968 in Lakhanpur, Bihar, is an Indian politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Also known as Rakesh Kumar, he has been a prominent BJP leader in Bihar and has held several ministerial roles in the state government. Since January 28, 2024, he has served as the Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister of Bihar in the Nitish Kumar administration. He was elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly from Tarapur in 2025, after previously serving as a Member of the Bihar Legislative Council (2020–2025).

Key roles and positions
- Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and Home Minister (since 2024), later reappointed in 2025.
- Finance Minister of Bihar (Feb 2024–Nov 2025); presented a large budget and announced job creation.
- Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council (Aug 2022–Aug 2023).
- President of the BJP in Bihar (Mar 2023–Jul 2024).
- Member of the Bihar Legislative Council (2020–2025) and elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly from Tarapur (2025).
- Earlier minister in Bihar governments, including Urban Development & Housing (2014–2015) and Panchayati Raj (2021–2022).

Background and politics
- Comes from a political family; his father Shakuni Choudhary is a seven-time MLA/MP, and his mother Parvati Devi has been an MLA.
- Belongs to the Koeri Kushwaha OBC community and has been a key OBC leader for the BJP in Bihar.
- Has been associated with several parties over his career, including Rashtriya Janata Dal and Janata Dal (United) before settling with BJP.
- Known for being outspoken and active in caste-based and political debates in Bihar.

Notable actions and issues
- As finance minister, announced a large Bihar budget and several new government posts.
- As home minister, launched crime prevention and women-safety initiatives, tightened anti-encroachment drives, and pushed for faster justice with fast-track courts.
- Promoted efforts to improve policing and public safety, including plans for a dedicated “Abhay Brigade” and other surveillance and emergency measures.
- Involved in caste and immigrant-related politics, including stance on caste census and concerns about illegal immigration in border areas.
- Has faced and sparked various political controversies and protests throughout his career.

Education
- Studied at Madurai Kamaraj University; his educational qualifications have been a subject of public discussion.