Patna: It’s rare and historic that top leaders of two political parties with different ideologies strongly back a person for the chief minister’s post in Bihar, former minister and six-time MLA Shakuni Choudhary said after his son Samrat Choudhary took the oath of office as state CM on Wednesday.“Jo mehnat karega wahi aage badhega (one who works hard, will rise). What I could not do has been done by my son by the blessings of Amit Shah, PM Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar,” Shakuni told reporters.
According to him, a leader is entrusted with such a significant responsibility only when they possess exceptional capability and strong leadership qualities. He said when parties with distinct political ideologies — such as the BJP and the JD(U) — unanimously agree upon a single name, it serves as a testament to that leader’s broad acceptability. “Samrat has successfully earned the trust not only of his own party but also of all the leaders within the alliance and the general public. This is his greatest strength,” he said.The senior Choudhary was the founding member of Samata Party formed by former CM Nitish Kumar after he separated from Janata Dal and then CM Lalu Prasad. Shakuni was also the architect of the ‘Luv-Kush’ equation alongside Nitish. Without his backing, it would have been difficult for Nitish to establish a foothold across the entire state.The former minister said his son’s elevation to this position feels like the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. Shakuni said the stature he himself could not attain has now been achieved by his son. Recalling his long political career, Samrat’s father said he played a pivotal role in strengthening the ‘Luv-Kush’ political equation and contributed to the formation of parties such as the Samata Party and the Hindustani Awam Morcha led by Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi when he floated his own party after revolting against Nitish, who had made him the CM after the JD(U) debacle in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.“Despite these efforts, I was never able to reach the office of the CM. Seeing Samrat attain this position feels like a dream come true for me,” he said.
