Samrat Chaudhary was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar on Thursday, May 7, 2026 [1].

The leadership transition marks a significant shift in the state's governance following the resignation of Nitish Kumar, ending his tenure to make way for a new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) administration.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at 12:10 PM [2] at Gandhi Maidan in Patna [3]. About 30 ministers were expected to take their oaths during the event [4] to establish the new cabinet.

This government formation follows the election of Chaudhary as the leader of the NDA legislative party. Mangal Pandey, a BJP MLA, said, "Today Samrat Chaudhary has been elected as the leader of the NDA legislative party and our government will be formed soon."

The transition began earlier this month after Nitish Kumar stepped down on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. The Hindu editorial desk said, "Nitish Kumar stepped down on Tuesday, paving the way for a new cabinet under Samrat Chaudhary."

The scale of the cabinet expansion reflects the NDA's strategy to balance various political interests within the coalition. IndiaTV News said that around 30 ministers were expected to take oath at the Gandhi Maidan venue [5].

“Around 30 ministers are expected to take oath at Gandhi Maidan”

The appointment of Samrat Chaudhary as Chief Minister represents a consolidation of power for the BJP within the NDA coalition in Bihar. By swearing in a large cabinet of roughly 30 ministers, the new administration is likely attempting to maintain coalition stability and reward key legislative allies following the abrupt departure of Nitish Kumar.