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Samrat Chaudhary Biography/Wiki: Samrat Chaudhary, born Rakesh Kumar on November 16, 1968, is an Indian politician serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar since January 28, 2024. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and represents the Tarapur Assembly constituency in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, having won the seat in the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections. He previously served as the state president of BJP Bihar from March 2023 to July 2024 and as Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council from 2022 to 2024.
Samrat Chaudhary Wiki / Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Samrat Choudhary (birth name: Rakesh Kumar) |
| Date of Birth | November 16, 1968 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 57 years |
| Birthplace | Lakhanpur village, Tarapur block, Munger district, Bihar |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Caste | Koeri (OBC) |
| Profession | Politician |
| Current Position | Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar (since January 28, 2024) |
| Political Party | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) (2017–present) |
| Previous Parties | Rashtriya Janata Dal (1990–2014); Janata Dal (United) (2014–2017) |
| Constituency | Tarapur, Bihar Legislative Assembly |
| Education | Higher education from Madurai Kamaraj University; D-Litt from Tarapur University, Munger |
| Father | Shakuni Choudhary (former MLA and MP) |
| Mother | Parvati Devi (former MLA from Tarapur) (died September 2022) |
| Wife | Kumta Kumari (Advocate) |
| Children | One son; one daughter |
| Net Worth | ₹4.85 crore (personal, as per 2025 election affidavit) |
| Address | 43, Harding Road, Patna, Bihar |
| Hobbies | Playing cricket |
Early Life
Samrat Chaudhary was born on November 16, 1968, in Lakhanpur village, Tarapur block of Munger district in Bihar. He grew up in a politically prominent family, with both parents actively involved in state politics. His father, Shakuni Choudhary, served as an MLA and MP seven times, while his mother, Parvati Devi, was an MLA from Tarapur constituency.
He received his basic education in Bihar before pursuing higher education at Madurai Kamaraj University. He later earned a Doctor of Letters (D-Litt) from Tarapur University in Munger, though earlier claims of B.Com and California University degrees have been controversial.
Samrat Chaudhary Education
Samrat Chaudhary completed his early schooling in Bihar before attending Madurai Kamaraj University for higher education. He holds a Doctor of Letters (D-Litt) from Tarapur University, Munger. His educational qualifications have been subject to scrutiny, including past controversies over age and degree claims during his early political career.
Samrat Chaudhary Family Background
His father, Shakuni Choudhary, was a retired army officer and prominent politician who served as an MLA and MP seven times. His mother, Parvati Devi, served as an MLA from Tarapur constituency and passed away in September 2022 after a prolonged illness.
Samrat Chaudhary is married to Kumta Kumari, an advocate. The couple has one son and one daughter. Specific names and further details about their children are not publicly disclosed in verified sources.
Career
Early Political Career — Rashtriya Janata Dal (1990–2014)
Samrat Chaudhary began his political career with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the 1990s. In 1999, he served as Minister of Agriculture in the Bihar government under Rabri Devi. He won the Parbatta Assembly constituency in 2000 and 2010 on an RJD ticket and served as Chief Whip of the opposition in the Bihar Assembly in 2010.
In 1999, he faced controversy when Governor Suraj Bhan removed him from the cabinet over allegations that he was underage for ministerial eligibility (under 25 years), citing Article 164 of the Indian Constitution. The governor ordered recovery of his salary and directed filing of fraud charges, though the matter was politically contested.
Defection and Janata Dal (United) Phase (2014–2017)
In 2014, Chaudhary engineered a split in the RJD by defecting with 13 MLAs, forming a splinter group before joining the BJP. He was appointed to the Bihar Legislative Council by then-Governor D.Y. Patil and served as Minister of Urban Development and Housing in the Jitan Ram Manjhi government. He joined Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) in 2014 before switching to BJP in 2017.
Bharatiya Janata Party — Rise to Leadership (2017–2023)
Chaudhary was appointed Vice President of BJP Bihar in 2018. He was elected to the Bihar Legislative Council in 2020 for his second term and served as Panchayati Raj Minister in Nitish Kumar’s government in 2021. In 2022, he became Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council.
In March 2023, he was appointed state president of BJP Bihar, succeeding Sanjay Jaiswal, as part of a strategy to strengthen the party’s appeal among Koeri (Kushwaha) voters — Bihar’s second-largest OBC group after Yadavs. In July 2023, he led protests against the NDA government’s unfulfilled promise of 10 lakh government jobs.
Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar (2024–present)
On January 28, 2024, Samrat Chaudhary was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar alongside Vijay Kumar Sinha following Nitish Kumar’s switch from the Mahagathbandhan to the NDA coalition. He was allocated key portfolios including Finance, Health, Commercial Taxes, Urban Development and Housing, Sports, Panchayati Raj, Industry, Animal and Fisheries Resources, and Planning.
As Finance Minister, he announced the creation of 30,547 government posts in line with NDA’s election promises. In July 2025, he oversaw the announcement that Delhi Metro Rail Corporation would manage the priority corridor of the Patna Metro project, with ₹200 crore allocated for enhanced transport customer service.
Key Initiatives as Deputy CM
Chaudhary mandated Janta Darbars (public grievance redressal forums) at every police station level, previously held only at SP/SSP level. He also initiated measures to curb gunda banks — illegal private moneylending operations charging arbitrary interest rates — across Bihar. In 2024, he served as convener of the Group of Ministers on Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate rationalisation.
2025 Bihar Assembly Elections
In the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, Chaudhary contested and won the Tarapur Assembly constituency on a BJP ticket, securing his position as a sitting MLA alongside his Deputy CM role.
Samrat Chaudhary Controversies
Age Forgery Allegations (1999)
In November 1999, Bihar Governor Suraj Bhan removed Chaudhary from Rabri Devi’s cabinet, citing Article 164 of the Constitution requiring ministers to be at least 25 years old for Legislative Assembly membership. The governor ordered recovery of his salary and directed fraud charges after Chaudhary allegedly failed to prove his age. The controversy stemmed from petitions by opposition Samata Party leaders.
Criminal Cases
Chaudhary faces charges under IPC Section 171F (undue influence or personation at an election) and IPC Section 188 (disobedience to public servant orders). Two criminal cases remain pending as of latest available records.
Controversial Statement (August 2023)
During a television appearance on Tulsi Ke Ram, Chaudhary stated that India did not achieve true independence in 1947 but in 1977 through Jayaprakash Narayan’s Sampoorna Kranti movement. The remark drew criticism from fellow ministers questioning his historical knowledge.
Samrat Chaudhary Net Worth
According to his 2025 election affidavit, Samrat Chaudhary’s personal net worth is approximately ₹4.85 crore. This includes movable assets worth ₹99 lakh comprising ₹28.45 lakh in cash and bank deposits, a vehicle valued at ₹7 lakh, and a licensed firearm worth ₹6 lakh.
His wife, Kumta Kumari, reported ₹2.01 crore in assets. Combined family movable and immovable assets total ₹11.31 crore, with immovable properties worth approximately ₹9.30 crore across rural and urban areas.
Interesting Facts About Samrat Chaudhary
- He is known by his alias Rakesh Kumar in addition to Samrat Choudhary
- Both his parents were elected representatives: father Shakuni Choudhary served as MLA/MP seven times; mother Parvati Devi was MLA from Tarapur
- He engineered an RJD split in 2014 by defecting with 13 MLAs before joining BJP
- As Deputy CM, he mandated Janta Darbars at every police station level for public grievance redressal
- He led protests in July 2023 against the unfulfilled NDA promise of 10 lakh government jobs
- In July 2025, he announced Delhi Metro Rail Corporation would oversee Patna Metro’s priority corridor with ₹200 crore allocation
- He created 30,547 government posts as Finance Minister in fulfilment of election promises
- He was appointed BJP Bihar state president in March 2023 to strengthen appeal among Koeri (Kushwaha) voters
- He was removed from Rabri Devi’s cabinet in 1999 over age eligibility controversy
- He enjoys playing cricket as a personal hobby
FAQ
Q: Who is Samrat Chaudhary?
Samrat Chaudhary is the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and a BJP leader representing Tarapur Assembly constituency. Born Rakesh Kumar on November 16, 1968, he previously served as BJP Bihar state president (2023–2024) and Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council.
Q: When was Samrat Chaudhary born?
He was born on November 16, 1968, in Lakhanpur village, Tarapur block, Munger district, Bihar.
Q: What is Samrat Chaudhary’s net worth?
His personal net worth is approximately ₹4.85 crore according to his 2025 election affidavit, with combined family assets at ₹11.31 crore.
Q: Who is Samrat Chaudhary’s wife?
He is married to Kumta Kumari, an advocate. The couple has one son and one daughter.
Q: What is Samrat Chaudhary’s caste?
He belongs to the Koeri caste (OBC).
Q: What political parties has Samrat Chaudhary been associated with?
He began with Rashtriya Janata Dal (1990–2014), joined Janata Dal (United) (2014–2017), and has been with Bharatiya Janata Party since 2017.
Q: What are Samrat Chaudhary’s current portfolios as Deputy CM?
Finance, Health, Commercial Taxes, Urban Development and Housing, Sports, Panchayati Raj, Industry, Animal and Fisheries Resources, Planning.
Q: What controversies has Samrat Chaudhary faced?
In 1999, he was removed from cabinet over age forgery allegations; he faces pending criminal cases under IPC Sections 171F and 188; made controversial statement claiming India’s true independence was 1977.