Bihar CM announcement highlights: Samrat Choudhary to take oath as new Bihar CM on April 15 as Nitish Kumar resigns

• Union minister Rajiv Ranjan and JD(U) national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha reached Nitish Kumar's residence earlier today.

• Nitish Kumar then headed for the Old Secretariat to chair the State Cabinet meeting, his last before he resigned. Nitish then recommended cabinet dissolution.

• BJP's Central Observer for Bihar and Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as well as BJP national president Nitin Nabin reached Patna in the afternoon for the NDA meeting which was to be held at 4 pm.

• Nitish Kumar submitted his resignation as the chief minister of Bihar to the Governor, and said the new government in Bihar would receive “my full cooperation and guidance.”

• Samrat Choudhary was named the BJP legislative party leader in Bihar at the NDA meeting in Patna and is set to take oath as the chief minister of the state tomorrow.

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal on Tuesday said the work carried out under the leadership of JDU chief Nitish Kumar will continue y Samrat Choudhary as the Bihar chief minister.

“The work that Nitish Kumar did as an NDA leader will be carried forward by NDA's new leader, Samrat Choudhary,” Jaishwal told ANI news agency.

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: BJP's central observer for Bihar and union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday announced that Samrat Choudhary had been unanimously elected as the Leader of the BJP Legislative Party in Bihar.

Speaking after Choudhary was chosen to become the next CM, Chouhan called it an “emotional and historic moment.” “Workers who have helped build the organisation of the BJP since the Jana Sangh days are seeing their dreams being realised today. Their resolve completes today...I congratulate Samrat Choudhary," Chouhan said.

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: Samrat Choudhary is set to take oath as the chief minister of Bihar on Wednesday. Samrat comes from a strong political family. His father, Shakuni Chaudhary, was a six-time MLA from Tarapur, while his mother Parvati Devi also served as a legislator.

Samrat began his career in 1999 with the Rashtriya Janata Dal, quickly rising through the ranks in the party.In 2000, he was elected as an MLA from Parbatta in Khagaria and became a minister in the government led by Rabri Devi.

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: After he was chosen to become the next chief minister of the Bihar, Samrat Choudhary expressed gratitude to the BJP's central leadership “for resposing their trust” in him.

“This is not merely a position for me, but a sacred opportunity to serve the people of Bihar, to fulfill their trust and dreams. I pledge to live up to the expectations of one and all with complete dedication, commitment, and integrity,” he said in a post on X.

He further said, “Under the able leadership of the country's esteemed Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji and the guidance of the honorable National President Shri @NitinNabin ji, I will remain continuously committed to taking Bihar to new heights of development, good governance, and prosperity.”

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: Samrat Choudhary was named the BJP legislative party leader in Bihar at the NDA meeting in Patna today, and is set to take oath as the chief minister of the state tomorrow.

His name was proposed by Vijay Kumar Sinha and seconded by Renu Devi, Mangal Pandey, Dilip Jaiswal. The formal announcement was made by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was attending the NDA meet as a central observer.

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar said that the Centre was “providing full cooperation in Bihar's development”.

He further thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this, saying “Bihar will develop even faster and join the top states of the country.” He said the state would make an important contribution to the progress of the nation.

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: After resigning as the Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar said that the decision on 7 Nishchay-3 had already been made, paving the way for the work to be done over the next five years.

“This will lead to even more work, as a result of which Bihar will advance significantly,” Nitish said.

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said that his government had worked for “the development of all sections of society from the very beginning."

“…Whether Hindus, Muslims, upper castes, backward classes, extremely backward classes, Dalits, or Mahadalits—work has been done for everyone,” he said in a post on X after his resignation. “Work has been done in every sector, whether education, health, roads, electricity, or agriculture. A lot of work has also been done for women and youth,” Nitish adde

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, following his resignation on Tuesday, recounted the formation of the NDA government in Bihar for the first time.

“You know that on 24 November 2005, the NDA government was formed in the state for the first time. Since then, the rule of law has prevailed in the state, and we have been continuously engaged in development work,” he said.

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: After submitting his resignation as the chief minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said the new government in Bihar would receive “my full cooperation and guidance.”

Nitish said that “Bihar will advance a great deal” under the new government, adding that a “lot of good work will be done.”

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar on Tuesday submitted his resignation as the chief minister of Bihar to the Governor. Nitish reached the Governor's residence after dissolving his cabinet after a last meeting in Patna earlier today.

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: Bihar agriculture minister Ram Kripal Yadav on Tuesday said he was “fortunate” to have worked as a member of chief minister Nitish Kumar's cabinet.

“We have worked with Nitish ji's leadership since the days of Lok Dal. I was fortunate to have worked as a member of his cabinet as well. What Nitish Kumar ji has done for the benefit of Bihar cannot be forgotten,” he told PTI news agency.

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: Nitish Kumar will submit his resignation from the chief minister's post later in the day to the Governor, state minister Ram Kripal Yadav said on Tuesday.

“It was a very emotional moment for all of us. He informed us about his decision. The CM recommended dissolution of the cabinet during the meeting. He will submit his resignation as CM to the governor later in the day,” the state minister said, according to PTI news agency.

Chairing his final cabinet meeting, on Tuesday, Nitish Kumar reflected on his two-decade-long tenure at the helm of Bihar and spoke about accelerating the state’s development even as he extended support to the incoming government.

Kumar congratulated the new dispensation and assured full cooperation and guidance for the state’s future progress. He also thanked colleagues and officials for their support during his tenure.

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: “CM Nitish Kumar will continue to contribute towards Bihar as a member of the Rajya Sabha," said Bihar minister Deepak Prakash of RLM.

Minister Sanjay Singh, representing Chirag Paswan's LJP (RV) in Nitish cabinet, said, "In his address, Nitish Kumar said that he would extend his cooperation to the new government that is formed in Bihar going forward. My guidance will continue to be available. A great deal of work has been accomplished in Bihar, and more will be done in the future. You all should work together harmoniously in the new government."

"It was an emotional moment for all of us," said minister Ram Kripal Yadav.

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: Our correspondent in Patna reported that Nitish Kumar arrived at Cabinet meeting along with Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Chaudhary. However when he left after the meeting, Samrat and Vijay Sinha were in one car, while Vijay Chaudhary was in the car with Nitish Kumar. After attending his final cabinet meeting, Kumar returned to the CM's official residence and he is scheduled to meet Governor to hand over his resignation paper.

Read more from our reporter here

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: Speculations are rife that Nitish Kumar's son, Nishant Kumar, who recently joined JD(U), is likely to get the chair of Deputy CM, as per sources in the party, said a PTI report.

However, the report also says that some workers are of the view that his father, who had agreed to his son's political entry "only under pressure from party workers", would like Nishant to earn his spurs before enjoying a shot at power.

Sanjay Kumar Jha, working president of JD(U) says that Nitish son is currently understand his job currently after joining the party. "Nishant Kumar is active in politics. He has joined the party and is strengthening the party organisation. He is meeting with everyone, and his job is to understand the entire party very intelligently and offer suggestions together. Whatever his role will be in the future, whether within the party or otherwise, will be decided by the party members..." Jha said, according to ANI..

Bihar Minister Ramkripal Yadav said that Nitish Kumar had done a lot for the state and this was an emotional moment for all.

"The CM expressed gratitude towards the members of the Cabinet and the public. It was an emotional moment where he expressed his emotions. Everyone is emotional today. All that Nitish Kumar ji has done for the state no one else has done...Everyone was emotional today..." he told reporters. (ANI)

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: As per home department officials, the new government’s oath ceremony will tentatively take place on April 15 at 11 am. Several top BJP leaders, including the PM, are expected to attend the ceremony at Lok Bhawan.

Read more here

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: BJP's Central Observer for Bihar and Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as well as BJP national president Nitin Nabin and BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde arrived at Patna in the afternoon. They will attend a meeting in BJP office at 3 PM before a broader NDA meeting takes place at 4 pm to pick the next Bihar CM.

Nitish Kumar dissolves his present Cabinet after its last meeting today in Patna. This means that his resignation is round the corner. At 4 pm, the NDA in Bihar meets to discuss and pick the new chief minister.

Bihar new CM announcement LIVE: Nitish Kumar clicked a picture with with his cabinet colleagues after his last cabinet meeting in Patna on Tuesday. (Picture credit: Bihar CMO)

Nitish Kumar has recommended cabinet dissolution before meeting governor to submit resignation as Bihar CM, says State minister Ram Kripal Yadav. (PTI)