Patna, April 15: In a significant shift in Bihar’s political landscape following Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s resignation, a new structure has emerged under the NDA leadership. For the first time, the state has a BJP Chief Minister, Samrat Chaudhary. Meanwhile, the experienced Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, a trusted strategist of Nitish Kumar, has been appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister. Alongside him, Bijendra Prasad Yadav also took the oath for the Deputy Chief Minister position.
Vijay Chaudhary’s elevation to the Deputy Chief Minister role is more than just a distribution of positions; it represents a calculated political move by Nitish Kumar. Chaudhary has always been a key member of Kumar’s ‘core committee.’ Although the BJP occupies the Chief Minister’s chair in this new government, the appointment of Chaudhary and Yadav ensures that the Janata Dal (United) maintains a strong grip on power and administration.
Vijay Kumar Chaudhary is among the few leaders in Bihar known for his simplicity, intellectual capability, and excellent parliamentary knowledge. His style of working away from controversies sets him apart.
Born on January 8, 1957, in a Bhumihar Brahmin family in Samastipur district, Vijay Chaudhary’s father, the late Jagdish Prasad Chaudhary, was a freedom fighter and served as a three-time MLA from Dal Singh Sarai on a Congress ticket.
Chaudhary earned a Master of Arts degree in History from Patna University in 1979. After completing his studies, he did not immediately enter politics. He began his career as a probationary officer at the State Bank of India in Thiruvananthapuram in 1979, where he worked for a while.
Following his father’s death, he left his bank job and won his first election as an MLA from Dal Singh Sarai on a Congress ticket in the 1982 by-elections. He served as a Congress MLA from 1985 to 1990.
After spending several years in Congress (including holding the position of General Secretary), he joined the Janata Dal (United) under Nitish Kumar’s leadership in 2005. He currently represents the Sarairanjan assembly constituency in Samastipur district.
Throughout his extensive political career, Vijay Chaudhary has held nearly all significant departments in the Bihar government. He has also served as the 15th Speaker of the Bihar Assembly. He has successfully managed heavy ministries such as Education, Finance, Commercial Tax, Water Resources, Parliamentary Affairs, Rural Development, and Building Construction.
In 2008, he also served as the party’s General Secretary and chief spokesperson. He has mastered the art of representing the government in the assembly, particularly in his role as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.
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