NEW DELHI: Amid growing speculation over who will become the next Chief Minister of Bihar, the central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accelerated the selection process by appointing Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the party’s central observer.
The decision was taken on Sunday, just three days ahead of the anticipated swearing in ceremony, likely to be held on April 15 in Patna.
The move to install a new Chief Minister from the BJP quota follows the election of incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to the Rajya Sabha.
Kumar formally took oath as a Member of Parliament in the Upper House on April 10, triggering discussions around the formation of a new government in Bihar, with the BJP expected to nominate the Chief Minister from its quota.
Several names have emerged as potential candidates for the top post, including Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, along with Shreyasi Singh and Sanjeev Chaurasia.
Party insiders hinted that Samrat Choudhary is currently the frontrunner, owing to his administrative experience, particularly in handling the Home Department.
Sources indicated that the BJP legislature party is keen to finalise a candidate who not only aligns with the party’s ideological stance but also represents the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC).
Choudhary, who belongs to the Kurmi community, is seen as fitting this criterion, further strengthening his position in the leadership.