Samrat Choudhary interview: ‘Nitish Kumar will remain Bihar CM, no two ways about it’
“I don’t make much of PK’s claims, migration has come down … It is very important to remind people of jungle raj … Nitish represents light and Lalu darkness,” says Bihar Deputy CM and BJP leader

By_shalini oraon

The statement, delivered with unwavering conviction by Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary, cuts through the swirling fog of political speculation that perpetually surrounds the state of Bihar. “Nitish Kumar will remain Bihar CM, no two ways about it,” he declared, ostensibly settling the debate over the Chief Minister’s chair. Yet, in the labyrinthine world of Bihar politics, such a definitive assertion is less a conclusion and more a strategic move in a high-stakes game of perception and power. The interview reveals not just the current stability of the ruling alliance but the calculated calculations that underpin it.

The Context: Taming the “Paltu Ram” Narrative

To understand the weight of Choudhary’s statement, one must first appreciate the political persona of Nitish Kumar. Over the past decade, Kumar has earned the moniker “Paltu Ram” (the one who turns) for his frequent political somersaults, switching allegiance between the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) with dizzying regularity. His most recent flip, in January 2024, saw him ditch the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress to return to the NDA fold, a move that secured his chief ministerial position for a record eighth time but also intensified questions about his long-term reliability.

It is against this backdrop that Samrat Choudhary’s interview serves a crucial purpose: to project an image of unshakeable solidarity. By stating there are “no two ways about it,” the BJP, through Choudhary, is attempting to do three things. First, it aims to quell internal dissent and external speculation that the BJP itself might seek to replace Kumar after a period of stability. Second, it seeks to reassure Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) party and its vote bank that the alliance is not a temporary arrangement but a committed partnership. Third, it is a message to the opposition, particularly the RJD, that attempts to destabilize the government will be futile.

The BJP’s Calculated Endorsement: Why Stick with Nitish?

The BJP’s steadfast support for Nitish Kumar is not born of sentiment but of cold, hard political calculus. Despite his diminishing personal charisma and the “Paltu Ram” tag, Kumar remains an asset for the NDA for several key reasons.

1. The Administrative Pedigree: Nitish Kumar’s brand is still inextricably linked to the “Sushasan” (good governance) narrative. His earlier tenures are credited with restoring law and order and driving development in Bihar. While this sheen has worn off in recent years, it still holds sway with a significant section of the electorate, particularly among the extremely backward classes (EBCs) and a section of women voters. For the BJP, which has a strong base among upper castes and sections of OBCs, Kumar provides a complementary social coalition that is difficult to replicate.
2. The Social Engineering Masterstroke: Kumar’s JD(U) holds significant sway over the EBC and Mahadalit communities. These groups, which form a substantial part of Bihar’s electorate, were strategically consolidated by Kumar himself. The BJP’s alliance with him allows the NDA to present a broad social front that spans upper castes, sections of OBCs, EBCs, and Mahadalits, creating a formidable electoral combination that has consistently bested the RJD’s Muslim-Yadav combination.
3. The Lack of a Credible Alternative: Within the Bihar BJP, there is no single leader who currently possesses the pan-Bihar appeal and administrative experience to seamlessly take over the chief minister’s role without risking the delicate social balance. While leaders like Samrat Choudhary and Sushil Kumar Modi are stalwarts, they do not yet command the same cross-community support. Projecting a BJP CM could lead to internal friction and potentially alienate Kumar’s voter base.
4. The National Imperative: For the BJP’s central leadership, a stable Bihar is crucial for its national agenda. A fractious alliance or a leadership crisis in one of India’s most politically sensitive states is a distraction the party can ill-afford. Maintaining the status quo with a known, if unpredictable, entity like Kumar is seen as a safer bet than engineering another political upheaval.

The Unspoken Caveats: The Fine Print of the Assurance

However, reading between the lines of Choudhary’s interview reveals the unspoken caveats that define this assurance. The statement “Nitish Kumar will remain CM” implicitly carries the suffix “…as long as the current political equation holds.” The BJP’s commitment is conditional, hinging on several factors.

· Performance and Stability: The BJP will expect Kumar to maintain discipline within his party and ensure the government runs smoothly without major scandals or governance failures. Any significant erosion in the government’s credibility could prompt a rethink.
· The 2025 Assembly Elections: This is the ultimate litmus test. The current arrangement is widely seen as a holding pattern until the next state elections. The BJP’s decision to stick with Kumar as the CM face in 2025 will depend heavily on the alliance’s perceived chances of winning. If internal surveys or ground reports suggest that Kumar has become a liability, the BJP, with its superior organizational machinery and resources, would not hesitate to reposition itself.
· The Central Leadership’s Whim: Ultimately, Nitish Kumar’s fate is tied to the strategic decisions made by the BJP high command in Delhi. Their assessment of the national and state political landscape can override any assurances given by state-level leaders like Choudhary.

Conclusion: An Uneasy Throne, A Calculated Peace

Samrat Choudhary’s interview is a masterclass in political messaging. It projects strength, unity, and finality, aiming to control the narrative and demoralize the opposition. It confirms that for the immediate future, the NDA in Bihar is betting on the stability that Nitish Kumar’s experience and social coalition provides, despite his unpredictability.

Yet, the very need to issue such a forceful declaration betrays the underlying anxiety. The throne in Patna has never been more uneasy. Nitish Kumar remains the Chief Minister not merely by his own political strength, but by the grace of a powerful ally that has, for now, calculated that he is their best bet. The statement “no two ways about it” is a powerful soundbite, but in Bihar’s turbulent politics, there are always at least three or four ways about everything. The current peace is not a permanent settlement, but a carefully negotiated truce, with all parties acutely aware that the real battle for 2025 is just over the horizon.